MEDICATION ADHERENCE AND ITS ASSOCIATION WITH SOCIO-DEMOGRAPHICS,PERCEIVED FAMILY SUPPORT AND BLOOD PRESSURE CONTROL AMONG ADULTS HYPERTENSIVE PATIENTS IN RURAL SOUTHWESTERN NIGERIA

Background: Perceived Family support and blood pressure control are important outcome measures to medication adherence in clinical trials. However, there is limited research on this topic among adult hypertensive patients in rural Southwest Nigeria. This study determined the pattern of medication adherence, blood pressure control and perceived family support and ascertained the determinants of medication adherence among adult hypertensive patients attending a tertiary hospital in rural Southwestern Nigeria.Methods: Hospital-based cross-sectional study was conducted on 282 hypertensive patients on follow up using systematic random sampling technique. Standardized semi-structured interviewer administered questionnaire was employed to seek information on respondents' sociodemographic characteristics. Adherence level was determined using the Morisky's Medication Adherence Scale, while Perceived Social Support family (PSS-Fa) scale was employed to assess the level of respondents' perceived family support. Data were analyzed using SPSS 20. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to identify the determinants of medication adherence.Results: The majority of the respondents had high medication adherence (61.0%), good controlled blood pressure (60.6%), and strong perceived family support (56.0%). Being a middle age (p<0.05), formal education (p<0.01), civil servants (p<0.001), higher income level (p<0.001), higher pill burden (p<0.001), normal BMI (p=0.012, controlled blood pressure (p<0.001) and strong perceived family support (p<0.001) were the independent determinants of medication adherence.Conclusion: The pattern of medication adherence, perceived family support and blood pressure control were good. The findings would assist the stakeholders at improving adherence to medication among patients with hypertension in rural Southwest Nigeria.