Compliance To and Knowledge of Anti-Hypertensive Therapy amongst Hypertensive Patients Attending Lagos University Teaching Hospital (Luth), Idi-Araba, Lagos, Nigeria

Good knowledge and compliant to antihypertensive therapy can have a positive effect on high blood pressure control. The objective of this study is to assess compliance to and knowledge of antihypertensive therapy amongst outpatient's attending the hypertensive clinic of the Lagos University Teaching Hospital, Idi-Araba, Lagos. This descriptive cross-sectional study on out-patients attending the hypertension clinic of LUTH, was conducted from the16 th June to 20 th July, 2012. Multistage sampling technique was utilized to select the calculated minimum sample size of 282 (133 males and 149 females). A validated questionnaire by Morisky Green was modified to suite the study, pretested and self administered by two (2) trained medical personnel (nurses). Collected data was entered, cleaned and analyzed using Epi-Info version 2007 statistical software. Up to 252(96.18%) of the hypertensive patients showed good knowledge of anti-hypertensive therapy while only 10(3.82%) had poor knowledge. Majority 196 (74.81%) of the respondents were not compliant to antihypertensive treatment while only 66(25.19%) complied. Poor compliance was found to be mainly due to forgetfulness 188(71.76%) and non-availability of drugs in respondent's place of domicile 136(51.91%). There was relationship between sex, religion, education and knowledge of respondents to hypertensive therapy. Significant association was found between knowledge of hypertensive therapy and forgetfulness. There was a significant association between forgetfulness and poor compliance 14.8(3.9-54.8). Good knowledge of antihypertensive therapy has not significantly improved compliance to antihypertensive therapy thereby leading to low healthcare outcome.