Rheumatic Heart Disease Patients’ Adherence to Secondary Prophylaxis and Associated Factors at Hospitals in Jimma Zone, Southwest Ethiopia: A Multicenter Study

• Main Authors: Adem A, Dukessa Gemechu T, Jarso H, Reta W
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Dove Medical Press 2020-12-01
• Series: Patient Preference and Adherence
• Subjects: rheumatic heart disease; adherence rate; secondary prophylaxis; associated factors; jimma zone hospitals; ethiopia
• Online Access: https://www.dovepress.com/rheumatic-heart-disease-patientsrsquo-adherence-to-secondary-prophylax-peer-reviewed-article-PPA

Alinur Adem,1 Tadesse Dukessa Gemechu,1 Habtemu Jarso,2 Wondu Reta3 1Department of Internal Medicine, Institute of Health Science, Jimma University, Jimma, Oromia, Ethiopia; 2Department of Biostatistics and Epidemiology, Institute of Health Science, Jimma University, Jimma, Oromia, Ethiopia; 3Department of Biomedical Sciences, Institute of Health Science, Jimma University, Jimma, Oromia, EthiopiaCorrespondence: Tadesse Dukessa GemechuJimma University, PO Box 378, Jimma, Oromia, EthiopiaEmail [e-mail]: Rheumatic heart disease (RHD) is a major cause of preventable premature cardiovascular-related death in developing countries. However, information regarding adherence rates and associated factors is limited and inconsistent in Ethiopia.Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted from August to November 2019 among selected RHD patients on follow-up at four hospitals in Jimma zone. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire. Adherence of RHD patients to secondary prophylaxis in the previous consecutive 12 months was assessed based on the annual frequency of received prophylaxis (monthly injection of benzathine penicillin). Good adherence was considered the patient receiving > 80% of the annual dose. The collected data were entered into Epidata 3.1 and analysed using SPSS 23.Results: A total of 253 RHD patients taking prophylaxis were included in the analysis, and of those 178 (70.4%) were female, giving a male:female ratio of 1:2.4. The mean age was 24± 11 (6– 65) years. About 63% had good adherence to benzathine penicillin prophylaxis. New York Heart Association functional class I and II, rural residence, > 30 km from health facility, and duration of prophylaxis > 5 years were associated with poor adherence (respectively: AOR 12.6 [95% CI 2.5– 63], P=0.016; AOR 6.8 [95% CI 1.9– 24.4], P=0.003; AOR 5.5 [95% CI 1.2– 26.7], P=0.046; AOR 1.2 [95% CI 1.1– 3.2], P=0.021). Leading barriers to good adherence were long distance from the treatment setting (56.9%), followed by lack of money (38%).Conclusion: Patients with class I and II heart failure and those living in rural areas, especially > 30 km from a hospital, were identified to be poorly adherent to secondary prophylaxis.Keywords: rheumatic heart disease, adherence rate, secondary prophylaxis, associated factors, Jimma zone hospitals, Ethiopia