Socio-demographic factors associated with non-adherents to TB treatment in South Africa

Non-adherence to tuberculosis treatment is the main obstacle to its eradication worldwide, with 40% of patients reported in underdeveloped nations. The current study aimed to determine socio-demographic factors associated with non-adherents to TB treatment at a healthcare center in South Africa. A cross-sectional study was conducted on 65 patients undergoing treatment. Socio-demographic and non-adherence data were collected using a structured questionnaire and analyzed using SPSS. Association between socio-demographic factors and non-adherents was obtained using Pearson chi-square tests and adjusted odds ratios, with p ≤ 0.05 regarded as statistically significant. The mean age of participants was 36.23 ± 11.21 years, with 41 (63.08%) males and 24 (36.92%) females, with 40% between the ages of 26 and 35. Unmarried individuals were 53 (81.53%), with a high-school level of education. There were 35 unemployed patients (53.84%), and 35 (53.80%) were HIV seronegative. Adherents to the treatment were 45 (69.23%), while 20 (30.77%) were non-adherents participants. Gender and unemployment were associated with non-adherence. A significant correlation was found between unemployment ( X 2 = 41.838, p = 0.047) and non-adherence, as well as gender and non-adherence ( X 2 = 10.604, p < 0.001). Non-adherence to TB treatment was associated with socio-demographic factors; therefore, understanding these factors may help establish more effective policies targeting patients at risk.