FACTORS ASSOCIATED WITH TREATMENT NON-COMPLIANCE AMONG INSIGHTFUL SCHIZOPHRENIC PATIENTS IN ST.MARY PSYCHIATRIC HOSPITAL, ERITREA

Idris Mohammed*, Salih Osman, Stella Gracy, Tesfamichael Amine and Kiflay Ghebregergis

ABSTRACT

Background: Non-compliance to antipsychotic medication has a negative impact on the course of illness resulting in increased risk of relapse, re-hospitalization, suicide and increased costs to healthcare system. Objectives: The objective of this study was to investigate factors associated with treatment non-compliance among patients with schizophrenia in Eritrea. Methodology: A descriptive and analytical cross-sectional study was conducted on 218 insightful schizophrenic patients from 14 November to 30 December, 2016. Data were collected by interviewing a structured standard questionnaire and analyzed using IBM SPSS software version 20. Results: Nearly 33% of our study participants were non-compliant to medication. A significant association has been found between non-compliance and younger age group, unemployment, early age of onset. Side-effects of the medication, transportation problem, social and occupational problem, misconception, forgetfulness and stigma were the significant reasons for non-compliance in our study. Conclusions and Recommendation: The present study has shown that medication non-compliance was found among patients with schizophrenia. Intervention strategies focused on educating the patients to better understanding the illness, medications and their potential side effects might be useful in improving compliance to antipsychotic medication.

Keywords: Schizophrenia, treatment, non-compliance, insight.