Shehu, A., Garba, S.N., Anyebe, E.E., Tukur, M.B. and Gomma, H.2024-05-202024-05-202019-05-28Shehu, A., Garba, S.N., Anyebe, E.E., Tukur, M.B. and Gomma, H. (2019) Adherence to drug treatment among schizophrenic patients in Jigawa State, Nigeria; Annals of African Medical Research 2: 45-77 . Published by College of Medical Sciences, Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University, Bauchi Nigeria; https://africa.pagepress.net/aamr/article/view/398https://uilspace.unilorin.edu.ng/handle/123456789/14377Schizophrenia is one of the most common mental health problems, contributing significantly to the burden of diseases and disability. Medication adherence by patients with this disorder is often very challenging. This study found a 47.1% level of drug adherence was 47.1%, considered low for full therapeutic response. It was found that the cost of the medications and experiences of side effects of the medications predict non-adherence to drug treatments. The study thus suggests supervised community treatment, and community mental health care financing among other things.Schizophrenia is among the most common psychiatric disorders, affecting approximately 1% of the world’s population, and is among the leading cause of disability. Adherence to drug therapy is associated with favourable clinical outcomes and good quality of life among schizophrenic patients undergoing treatment. This study assessed the prevalence and factors responsible for adherence/non-adherence to drug treatment among schizophrenic patients in Jigawa State. We used a descriptive hospital-based cross-sectional study design and recruited three hundred and ninety-nine patients using a multi-stage sampling technique. The mean and standard deviation of the age of the respondents was 42.3±11.2. The level of drug adherence was 47.1%. On bivariate analysis, the cost of treatment, types of treatment, side effects, and effects of treatment on the performance were found to be associated with low adherence to drug treatment (P<0.05). On adjusting for confounding effect using logistic regression analysis, the cost of treatment of more than one thousand naira per day (AOR=3.00, 95%CI=2.75-8.83) and the presence of side effects (AOR=4.01, 95%CI=1.45-16.09) were found to be predictors of non-adherence to drug treatments. Supervised community treatment, behavioural change communications along with community mental health care financing were recommended in order to increase access and decrease non-adherence to drugs.adherencedrug therapyschizophrenic patient