Abstract:

Background: Hypertension, a common yet serious condition, significantly impacts global health, particularly in low-income regions like sub-Saharan Africa. Poor adherence to antihypertensive medications exacerbates the issue, contributing to severe health complications and increased mortality. Understanding the factors influencing non-adherence is critical for improving patient outcomes.

Methodology: This descriptive cross-sectional study, conducted from May 2023 to August 2024 at Mwawaza Referral Hospital in Shinyanga, Tanzania, aimed to assess factors associated with antihypertensive medication non-adherence. The study included 99 adult hypertensive patients who met the inclusion criteria. Data were collected using structured questionnaires and analyzed using SPSS version 20.0, with statistical significance set at p < 0.05.

Results: The sample comprised 55.6% females and 44.4% males, predominantly aged 40-49 years (24.2%) and 60-69 years (23.2%). Major factors for non-adherence included forgetfulness (76.8%), medication cost (62.6%), side effects (33.3%), and lack of awareness (61.6%). Additionally, 65.7% felt their healthcare providers never adequately explained the importance of medication adherence. Most participants (66.7%) rarely remembered to take their medications, and 69.7% never discussed their concerns with healthcare providers. Significant barriers to obtaining medication were reported by 88.9% of respondents.

Conclusion: The study shows critical factors contributing to antihypertensive medication non-adherence, including forgetfulness, cost, side effects, and inadequate patient education. Effective strategies to address these barriers, such as enhancing patient-provider communication and education, are essential to improving medication adherence and managing hypertension in this population.