Adherence and Perception of Care Among Patients with Multidrug Resistant Tuberculosis in North Central Nigeria

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The efforts geared towards control of Tuberculosis is threatened by the spread of multidrug resistance. Severe forms of multidrug resistant TB termed Pre-extensive (Pre-XDR) and Extensively Drug resistant (XDR) TB have been reported by different countries including Indian, China, Russia and Nigeria. Previous studies have shown a strong association between these various forms of resistance and non-adherence. The study was conducted to identify the factors affecting adherence, assess level of adherence and the perception of care among Multidrug resistant clients in North Central Nigeria. Specific & structures Questionnaires were administered to 96 MDR TB patients and 67 healthcare providers (representing 50% of each of the professional group). Few patients and healthcare providers were later selected from the number that responded to questionnaires and were involved in Focus Group Discussion. Responses from participants showed that the factors affecting adherence were alcohol addiction (72.9%), lack of social support (88.5%), feeling cured (28.1%), access to treatment centre (46.9%), non-payment & inadequate incentives/enablers for patients to continue treatment (38.5%), Stigma and discrimination (31.3%), financial difficulty (25%), treatment side effect (39.6%) and long treatment course & high pill burden (55.2%). Patients’ level of satisfaction on care was high (66.7%) indicating a satisfactory perception. This study revealed that factors affecting non-adherence were multifactorial and patients’ perception on MDR TB care was satisfactory.