ASSESSMENTS OF ADHERENCE TO HYPERTENSION MANAGEMENTS AND ITS INFLUENCING FACTORS AMONG HYPERTENSIVE PATIENTS ATTENDING BLACK LION HOSPITAL CHRONIC FOLLOW UP UNIT, ADDIS ABABA, ETHIOPIA-A CROSS-SECTIONAL STUDY

Background: In Ethiopia 10.6% and Addis Ababa, 30% of the population has been estimated to have hypertension. Adherence to medication therapy and lifestyle change is an aspect of patients’ care that is often overlooked and should be evaluated as a crucial part of cardiovascular management.

Objective: The aim is to assess adherence and influencing factors of adherence to hypertensive management among hypertensive patients in Black Lion Hospital chronic follow up unit, Ethiopia.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted. Systematic sampling technique was used to select 286 study subjects. A structured standard interviewer administered questionnaire was used after some modifications. Analysis was done using SPSS 16. P-value <0.05 was considered significant association. Scoring method was used to classify patients’ level of adherence.

Results: Of 286 subjects included in the study 165(57.7%) were female and mean age was 52±13 year.  The adherence level of respondents to medication, diet and exercise were 69.2%, 64.7%, and 43.7% respectively. The medication and diet related adherence were found to be better in patients who had been informed about their medicine. There was significant association between marital status, work status, Health care facilities, duration of Hypertension and its treatment and medication adherence.

Conclusion: The rates of adherence to medication and life-style changes were generally found to be low in these study participants