dc.contributor.author | Katabalo, Deogratias M | |
dc.date.accessioned | 2014-12-02T09:54:15Z | |
dc.date.available | 2014-12-02T09:54:15Z | |
dc.date.issued | 2014-11 | |
dc.identifier.citation | Degree of Mastersof Pharmacy in clinical Pharmacy | en_US |
dc.identifier.uri | http://hdl.handle.net/11295/75914 | |
dc.description.abstract | Background: Epilepsy is a chronic disease requiring prolonged treatment with
anticonvulsants to control seizures. Adherence to anticonvulsants by epileptic children is
crucial but studies from developed countries have shown that adherence of patients to
anticonvulsants is averaging at 50 %. Parents/guardians and prescribers of anticonvulsants
have a big role in the enhancement of adherence to anticonvulsants among children.
Study objective: To evaluate the determinants of adherence to anticonvulsants in outpatient
epileptic children aged two to twelve years at neurology clinic in Kenyatta National Hospital.
Methods: This study involved 176 epileptic children aged two to twelve years attending
neurology clinic, their parents/guardians and 10 attending prescribers. A cross-sectional study
design was used. Systematic random and convenience sampling was used to enrol
parents/guardians and prescribers respectively. Predesigned questionnaires were used to
identify determinants among the participants whereas Morisky tool was used for assessing
medication adherence.
Results: Among the study patients, there was male predominance at 62.5 %. Rates of
adherence to anticonvulsant by epileptic children were found to be 36.9 % for high
adherence, 39.8 % medium adherence and 23.3 % low adherence. Adherence was shown to
be statistically significantly associated with parents/guardian marital status (p= 0.01, OR=
5.72, CI= 1.5, 21.78), education level (p= 0.001, OR= 5.16, CI= 1.88, 14.02). Lack of time by
prescribers due to patient load, assumptions that the patient will adhere and lack of
knowledge on the importance of adherence were the major prescriber’s related factors
impacting on adherence. Unavailability and inaccessibility of anticonvulsants impacted on
adherence because majority of patients could not obtain their medications from Kenyatta
National Hospital pharmacy facility at affordable cost.
Conclusion: Adherence to anticonvulsants therapy among children was poor due to
parents/guardians and prescriber related factors. We recommend these factors to be
minimized. Identifying appropriate means so that adherence may be improved | en_US |
dc.language.iso | en | en_US |
dc.publisher | University of Nairobi | en_US |
dc.title | Determinants of adherence to anticonvulsant therapy among outpatient epileptic children aged two to twelve years at Kenyatta National Hospital | en_US |
dc.type | Thesis | en_US |
dc.description.department | a
Department of Psychiatry, University of Nairobi, ; bDepartment of Mental Health, School of Medicine,
Moi University, Eldoret, Kenya | |
dc.type.material | en_US | en_US |