Treatment adherence among tuberculosis patients

Abstract

The main aim of this article is to provide insight into the determinants of treatment adherence among pulmonary tuberculosis patients. The study was conducted at nine clinics in the Free State province of South Africa. The quantitative evidence shows that stigmatisation, the socio-economic circumstances of patients, and migrancy all play important roles in explaining non-adherence. The qualitative evidence identified some of the factors affecting adherence as lack of knowledge about TB, the nonsustainability of educational campaigns, the side-effects of drugs, hunger, lack of family support, the stigma attached to TB, the attitude of health care workers and the long delay before diagnosis. Based on this evidence, recommendations are made for a number of provider-, patient- and community-centred interventions to improve adherence.