Medication non-adherence and predictor factors among adult asthmatic patients in Ethiopia: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Objective: A pronounced burden is evident in individuals with asthma, with approximately half of them not adhering to their prescribed medication. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the pooled prevalence of anti-asthma medications non-adherence in Ethiopia.

Data Sources: A comprehensive search was conducted across multiple electronic databases including PubMed, Africa Index Medicus, Science Direct, Hinari, and a search engine, Google Scholar from October 5 to 20, 2023. In addition, digital research repositories from Addis Ababa and Bahir Dar University were accessed.

Data Selection: The eligibility criteria was employed to screen studies after uploading search results to EndNote software to remove duplicates first. Then, two investigators, CT and BBT, independently assessed titles, abstracts, and the full text of all retrieved references to identify potentially eligible studies.

Result: This meta-analysis, which was conducted in Ethiopia, and included 11 full-text articles, revealed a pooled asthma medication non-adherence level of 51.20% (95% CI 35.20%, 67.20%) with substantial heterogeneity ( = 99.08%). The review has also identified factors predicting non-adherence among asthmatic patients: free (health service) (AOR: 0.31, 95% CI 0.18-0.54), poor knowledge (AOR: 2.85, 95% CI 1.61-5.05), absence of formal education (AOR: 3.01, 95% CI 1.72-5.25), history of previous ADR (AOR: 8.57, 95% CI 1.12-65.3), and the presence of Co- morbidity(AOR: 3.28, 95% CI 2.014-5.68), had shown association with asthma medication non-adherence.

Conclusion: Asthma medication non-adherence is notably high in Ethiopia. Addressing medication non-adherence requires a comprehensive approach, including clear communication between healthcare providers, patient education, and addressing financial barriers to ensure better adherence in asthma patients.