Adherence to Antihypertensive Medications and Determinants Among Patients at Yekatit 12 Hospital, 2022 G.C.

Background: Hypertension is a major global issue, with high morbidity and mortality rates. It is estimated to be 6% in Ethiopia and 30% in Addis Ababa. Adherence is the degree to which a person's medication-taking behaviour corresponds to the health care provider's medical advice. It encompasses both dosage frequency and timing of ingestion. Poor adherence is connected with poor illness outcomes and a waste of healthcare expenditures. Objective: To assess the extent of Adherence to antihypertensive medications and the reasons for non-adherence among hypertensive patients. Methodology: An institution-based cross-sectional study was conducted at Yekatit12 Hospital Medical College using structured questionnaires from February to May 2022 G.C. The collected data was processed and analyzed using computer software using SPSS version 21.0, presented in tables and figures and then interpreted based on the findings. Results: - Of 127 respondents, 78 (61.9%) and 49 (38.8%) were Female and Male, respectively. The majority of the study participants, 73 (57.6%), were in the age group of 50-64. In a more significant proportion of patients, 88(69.4%), the cost of drugs was covered by themselves. At least one side effect of hypertensive medications had been reported by 60 (80%) of participants. Of the 127 study subjects, 79 (62.2%) were adherent, (37.8%) were non-adherent to their antihypertensive medication. The majority of patients (41.2%) reported stopping their medication when they felt better & only (10.2%) of them reported financial problems with stopping their medication. Conclusion and Recommendation: - In general, these hypertensive individuals did not take their medications as prescribed. To enhance the patient's quality of life, pharmacists and other medical specialists must to work together. They must emphasize the value of following their hypertension treatment plan, its advantages, and the possibility of problems.