ADHERENCE TO ANTICOAGULANT MEDICATION AND ITS ASSOCIATED FACTORS AMONG CHILDREN WITH CARDIAC PROBLEMS ATTENDING CARDIAC OUT PATIENT DEPARTMENT AT PUBLIC HOSPITALS ADDIS ABABA, ETHIOPIA, 2024

Abstract

ABSTRACT Introduction: A patient's ability to take prescription medications as advised and their continuous use of those medications are referred to as medication adherence. Children often have difficult times adhering to their medication regimens, which can result in a bad prognosis and hospital stays. Fifty percent of treatment failures and deaths can be attributed to non-adherence. Given the lack of research in this field, this study will close the knowledge gap by estimating the prevalence of anticoagulant medication non adherence in children and its contributing factors, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Objective: To assess the adherence of anticoagulant medication and its associated factors among children with cardiac problems attending cardiac OPD of Selected Public Hospitals, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, 2024 Methods and material: An institutional based cross-sectional study design was used from March 1, 2024 –April 1, 2024 on children with cardiac problems attending there follow up at Cardiac Center Ethiopia, St. Paul’s Hospital and St. Peter’s Hospital.The questionnaire was pre-tested in children from other hospital then the data was interred in SPSS for Cronbach’s alpha reliability test with a cut of point being 70 and above was 72. Survey method was used in which all children at the time of data collection were taken. Association between dependent and independent variables was assessed multivariate analysis P-value < 0.05 was taken as statistically significant and to control confounders. Adjusted odds ratio (AOR) was calculated to determine the association between the dependent and independent variables at 95% confidence interval (CI). Result: There were 192 participants in this study among them 14.6% have poor adherence to anticoagulant therapy. Duration of therapy (AOR: 0.118, 95% CI: 0.034 0.410) and awareness of their medical condition (AOR: 0.043, 95% CI: 0.011-0.165) have significant association with anticoagulant adherence. Conclusion and Recommendation: Among the children with cardiac problems on follow up at cardiac OPD of selected public hospitals in Addis Ababa 14.6% were not ii adherent to the anticoagulant medication they were taking. Early identification of the problem, counseling, follow up, psychosocial support to the children as well to the caregiver helps with preventing the complication that comes with non-adherence. Keyword: anticoagulants, adherence, Children, cardiac problems