article · Medical Technology and Public Health Journal
Tuberculosis remains a major cause of death and illness in South Africa, largely driven by patient non-compliance with prescribed treatment regimens. A quantitative cross-sectional study examined non-compliance rates and associated factors among 309 patients in the Ekurhuleni South Health Sub-district, using an anonymous questionnaire. The analysis revealed that patients with a sufficient food supply for more than six months showed a decreased likelihood of adhering to their therapy. Conversely, patients who discussed their treatment with family or friends exhibited a higher tendency to adhere to their medication regimen. In addition, unmarried individuals were twenty-two percent less likely to adhere to their treatment compared to their counterparts. To address these issues, treatment adherence initiatives require an integrated strategy that combines economic assistance, targeted patient education, and efforts to reduce stigma.
Tuberculosis control programmes often struggle when patients fail to finish their full treatment courses. By pinpointing how social support, marital status, and food security influence whether people take their medicine, public health teams can design better community interventions. Addressing social stigma and economic realities alongside medical care helps ensure patients complete their treatment, reducing ongoing transmission and mortality.
The abstract does not indicate an application pathway, as it focuses on epidemiological findings to inform public health policy rather than a commercial product or technology.
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Despite the implementation of several tuberculosis (TB) control initiatives, TB continues to be a significant cause of mortality and morbidity in South Africa primarily due to non-compliance with the recommended treatment. The objective of the study was to determine the frequency of non-compliance with treatment and identify the factors linked to non-compliance among tuberculosis patients in the Ekurhuleni South Health Sub-district in South Africa. This study was a quantitative cross-sectional analysis carried out on a sample of 309 patients, utilising an anonymous questionnaire. The data was analysed using Stata version 14. The findings indicated that those who had a sufficient food supply for a period beyond 6 months demonstrated a decreased likelihood of adhering to tuberculosis therapy (odds ratio = -0.12, p < 0.05). Additionally, the study revealed that those who had communicated with their family or friends about their tuberculosis treatment were more inclined to comply with the treatment regimen (OR=0.11; p<0.1). Individuals who were unmarried had a 22% lower likelihood of adhering to medication (OR=0.22; p<0.05). Based on these findings, initiatives designed to enhance adherence to TB treatment in Gauteng Province should implement a comprehensive approach, integrating economic assistance, focused education, and strategies to reduce stigma. Keywords: Alcohol consumption, scarcity of food, side effects, knowledge
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DOI: 10.33086/mtphj.v9i2.5592
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