Determinants of Non-Adherence to Anti-Tuberculosis Treatment in a Public Primary Healthcare Clinic in South Africa: Improving the Quality of Long-Term Care

Lucky Norah Katende-Kyenda ()
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Lucky Norah Katende-Kyenda: Department of Internal Medicine and Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Walter Sisulu University, Sissons Street, Fortgale, Mthatha 5117, Eastern Cape, South Africa

IJERPH, 2025, vol. 22, issue 8, 1-16

Abstract: Background: Non-adherence to anti-tuberculosis treatment remains a major obstacle to increasing tuberculosis treatment success rates and enhancing healthcare expenditure. The aim of this study was to identify determinants contributing to non-adherence to anti-tuberculosis treatment in a public primary healthcare clinic in South Africa. Method: A cross-sectional study was carried out to collect data from 65 participants using face-to-face interviews with a structured questionnaire. Data were analyzed using SPSS. Results: Of the 65 participants interviewed, 41 (63.08%) were males and 24 (36.92%) were females. A total of 45 (69.23%) were adherents and 20 (30.77%) were non-adherents. Gender was the major predictor of non-adherence with more males committed to treatment than females with a significant association (X 2 = 65.00 and p of <0.001). Conclusions: The major contributing factors to non-adherence were long dis-tances to the clinics, a lack of family support, and unemployment. Comprehensive programs addressing these multifactorial factors are needed for successful treatment and eradication of tuberculosis.

Keywords: South Africa; non-adherence; tuberculosis; primary healthcare; direct observed treatments; public health (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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