Adherence to Antihypertensive Treatment and Associated Factors in Semi-urban Area in North Togo

Background. The purpose of this study was to determine the rate of non-adherence to antihypertensive therapy and to investigate factors that may explain this non-adherence. Methods. This is a cross-sectional study conducted from March to December 2017 in two public hospitals in the city of Kara. It included hypertensive patients known to have been on treatment for at least six months, and who were able to provide information to the Girerd self-questionnaire. A survey form was used to collect sociodemographic, clinical and therapeutic data. Results. Of the 216 received patients, 35.2% had good adherence and 64.8% had difficulties in adhering to their treatment (16.7% had minor adherence problems and 48.1% had poor adherence). The low level of education (OR=1.87; 95% CI=1.01-3.44; p=0.04), the short duration of progression (<5 years) of hypertension (OR=2.90; 95% CI=1.62-5.17; p=0.001), lack of financial resources (OR=2.78; 95% CI=1.37-5.64; p=0.04), non-staff status (OR=2.89; 95% CI 1.60-5.20, p<0.001) and the high number of tablets to be taken per day (OR=3.32; 95% CI 1.80-6.10; p≤ 0.001) were predictive factors for treatment non-compliance. Conclusion. Adherence to antihypertensive therapy was low in a hypertensive population in Northern Togo. Low education level, a duration of hypertension evolution of less than five years, lack of financial means, non-civil servant status and high number of tablets were the factors associated with nonadherence to treatment.