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

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= 65.00 andof <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.