Abstract
Understanding patient’s adherence to antihypertensive therapy and the factors associated with it is critical to controlling hypertension and its’ negative effects on patients. Experts have found that some of the complications of hypertension such as heart failure, stroke, sudden death, etc arise mainly due to poor or non-adherence to antihypertensive therapy. Studies have shown that there is relationship between certain socio-demographic characteristics of patients and adherence to antihypertensive therapy. The goal of this study was to determine the relationship between patients’ socio-demographic characteristics and adherence to antihypertensive therapy in the Southern Senatorial District of Cross River State. Specifically, the study sought to establish the relationship between patients’ age, sex, marital status and place of residence, and adherence to antihypertensive therapy. A descriptive cross-sectional survey design was adopted for the study. Structured questionnaire was administered to five hundred (500) patients selected through multistage sampling. Four hundred and twenty one (421) questionnaires were properly filled and returned. Data obtained from the study was analyzed using SPSS version 21. Results show that 267 (63.4%) had poor level of adherence to antihypertensive therapy. There were differences in the level of adherence between the different patient socio-demographic characteristics and it was found that age, marital status and place of residence had significant association with levels of adherence (p<0.05). It was recommended that healthcare providers should be trained to understand and appreciate the influence of the socio-demographic variables on patients’ adherence to their antihypertensive medications. This will help equip healthcare providers to be more informed and sensitive to the peculiarities of these socio-demographic subgroups with regards to their drug taking behavior.