Skip to main content

Research Repository

Advanced Search

‘Ghost’ stories: sociocultural factors influencing tuberculosis treatment adherence in Ghana

Salifu, Yakubu; Eliason, Cecilia; Mensah, George

‘Ghost’ stories: sociocultural factors influencing tuberculosis treatment adherence in Ghana Thumbnail


Authors

Yakubu Salifu

Cecilia Eliason

George Mensah



Abstract

Background: Non-adherence to treatment is a major problem in tuberculosis (TB) control and leads to adverse outcomes and increased morbidity and mortality.
Aim: To explore the experiences of TB patients taking anti-TB drugs in Ghana to improve treatment adherence and prevent TB.
Method: Ten semi-structured interviews were conducted. Participants were asked about their experience of taking anti-TB drugs and factors that affect treatment adherence. These were transcribed and analysed using inductive content analysis. Participants were chosen through purposive sampling.
Findings: Three main themes emerged from the data: family support, stigma, beliefs and misconception. Subthemes included emotional support, financial difficulty and myth.
Conclusion: Patients who have family support, who are ‘policed’ and reminded to take their drugs at home are likely to adhere to treatment. Traditional beliefs and social stigma can affect medication adherence adversely.

Citation

Salifu, Y., Eliason, C., & Mensah, G. (2016). ‘Ghost’ stories: sociocultural factors influencing tuberculosis treatment adherence in Ghana. Primary Health Care, 26(10), 34-41. https://doi.org/10.7748/phc.2016.e1159

Journal Article Type Article
Acceptance Date Jun 1, 2016
Online Publication Date Dec 1, 2016
Publication Date Dec 29, 2016
Deposit Date May 18, 2017
Publicly Available Date Mar 28, 2024
Journal Primary Health Care
Print ISSN 0264-5033
Electronic ISSN 2047-900X
Publisher RCN Publishing
Peer Reviewed Peer Reviewed
Volume 26
Issue 10
Pages 34-41
DOI https://doi.org/10.7748/phc.2016.e1159
Keywords adherence, commitment, compliance, family support, nursing interventions, qualitative, stigma, tuberculosis
Public URL https://nottingham-repository.worktribe.com/output/831913
Publisher URL http://journals.rcni.com/doi/10.7748/phc.2016.e1159
Additional Information This is not the version of record.

Files





You might also like



Downloadable Citations