Abstract:
Background: Childhood
epilepsy causes a tremendous
burden for the child, the
family, society as well as the
healthcare system. Adherence to
antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) is key
to treatment success, one of the
main causes of unsuccessful treatment
for epilepsy is poor adherence
to medications. Nonadherence
in children with epilepsy
presents a potential ongoing
challenge for achieving a key
therapeutic goal of seizure control.
Aim: To determine the prevalence
and factors associated with nonadherence
to AEDs among children
with epilepsy at Jos University
Teaching Hospital, Jos, Nigeria.
Methodology: This cross sectional
study was done to assess the
prevalence and factors associated
with non-adherence to AEDs
among children with epilepsy
from November 2019 to February
2020. A structured questionnaire
was used to collect relevant information
on the adherence of study
subjects to AEDs based on self/
caregiver report. Part of the questionnaire
was derived from
Morisky Medication Adherence
Scale (MMAS-8).
Results: One hundred and ninetyfour
subjects were recruited for the
study. The prevalence of nonadherence
to AEDs was 44.8%.
Factors significantly associated
with non-adherence were low socioeconomic
status, multiple drug
therapy and long duration of treatment.
The main reasons for nonadherence
were financial constraint,
forgetfulness, lack of improvement
and medication side
effects.
Conclusion: Non-adherence to
medication is common among
children with epilepsy and it hampers
the key therapeutic goal of
seizure control. Improving per
capita income of families, providing
universal health insurance,
medication reminders and appropriate
education/counseling will
reduce non-adherence and improve
the long term outcome of
