Abstract

Tuberculosis is a preventable, treatable and curable disease provided the precautionary measures and drug adherence are strictly adhered to. Structured questionnaires were administered to 280 tuberculosis patients diagnosed at the Pulmonary Unit of University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital, Ilorin; a tertiary healthcare centre in Nigeria. There were 166 males and 114 females giving male to female ratio of 1.4:1.0. There was a significant association between education and patients’ adherence to their medications. Side effects of the anti-tuberculosis agents have negative impact on patients’ drug adherence. Positive effect of counseling on the patients’ adherence to their medication regimen was also recorded. Age had no significant relationship with patients’ drug adherence, whereas education was significantly associated with patients’ drug adherence.Drug adherence rate accounted for 94.6% of the patients seen over the period of study. The high rate of drug adherence observed was probably due to free anti-tuberculosis drugs, free medical laboratory service and the rapid improvement in the signs and symptoms of the disease. Also, directly observed treatment short course (DOTs) currently introduced in the hospital coupled with free supply of tuberculosis resistant strain drugs to patients, improved adherence and impede tuberculosis transmission within the community, and thereby stem the tide of the disease.

Key words: Tuberculosis, drug adherence, patients, Ilorin, Nigeria.