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

Salifu, Yakubu; Eliason, Cecilia; Mensah, George

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: May 18, 2017
• 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.
• Contract Date: May 18, 2017