Compliance with Antihypertensive Therapy and its Determinants among Elderly Individual Attending World Bank Primary Health Care, Umuahia, Abia State

Hypertension is a major cause of morbidity and mortality globally, and its treatment depends on compliance with therapy. The present study aimed at assessing the compliance with anti-hypertensive therapy and its determinants among the elderly individuals attending World Bank Primary Health Centre Umuahia, Nigeria. A descriptive cross-sectional research design was used for the study. 13 respondents completed the study. Consecutive sampling was used to select respondents for the study. An interview guide designed by the researcher was used as instrument for data collection. Descriptive and Inferential (Fisher’s Chi square) statistics was used for data analysis. Level of significance was set at 0.05. Results found the respondents had poor compliance with anti-hypertensive therapy (mean 2.48 on a 4-point scale). The respondents had good compliance with medication (mean 2.56), but poor compliance with lifestyle modifications (mean 2.35). The significant determinants of compliance with anti-hypertensive therapy would include fear for medication side effects (mean 3.08), and cost of medication (mean 2.92). There was no significant relationship between compliance with anti-hypertensive therapy and educational level (Fisher χ2 = 0.627, P = 0.429, P < 0.05). In addition, nurse professionals should lobby governments and non-governmental organizations to subsidize the cost of anti-hypertensive medications. The study recommended that Nurse professional should develop ways of emphasizing compliance with lifestyle modification as important in the prevention and treatment of Hypertension.