Abstract:

Introduction: In Tanzania, prevalence of TB is about 237 cases per 100000 people. From 2006 to 2015, of the 247976 deaths reported, TB accounted for 9687 deaths. TB is managed by combination of drugs; isoniazid, rifampicin, pyrazinamide and ethambutol (RHZE) while MDR-TB is managed by kanamycin, bedaquiline, cycloserine, rifampicin, ethionamide, linezolid, and levofloxacin which are individualized depending on the drug a patient is resistant to.

Method: We recruited patients receiving tuberculosis treatment at Bugando Medical Centre. We utilized Medication Adherence Rating Scale questionnaire to obtain required data. Data analysis was conducted using STATA software.

Results: A total of 83 patients were enrolled in this study, 48 (57.83%) were male while 35(42.17%) were female and 15(18.07%) were HIV positive. Prevalence was determined, where 13 participants (15.66%) had poor adherence while (84.34%) had good adherence. The main factors that led to non-adherence of anti TB therapy among the participants were being male, age, presence of co-medication, being HIV positive, having extrapulmonary TB, having MDR-TB or relapsed TB, presence of side effects and no lack of awareness on the importance of being adherent.

Conclusion: While there is a significant improvement in TB therapy adherence (1.2%) from the past five years, we still need to reach the global TB treatment goals which should be above (85%). Lack of knowledge is the main problem for both patients and the community, also loss of follow up from the health centres. Education is mostly needed to improve TB therapy adherence mostly on the importance of adherence to patients and community and also improvement in follow up on the patients that are undergoing therapy for TB is required."