| Résumé: | Background: Diabetic individuals must adhere to their medications to control their glucose
levels and prevent diabetes-related complications. However, there is limited evidence of
medication adherence in patients with type 2 diabetes in Bangladesh.
Objectives: We assessed the level of adherence and factors associated with low adherence to
anti-diabetic medication among patients with type 2 diabetes at different health facilities in
southern Bangladesh.
Methods: This cross-sectional study included 2,070 patients with type 2 diabetes who
presented at five health facilities in the Chittagong Division between November 2018 and
June 2019. We assessed medication adherence using a self-reported, structured, eight-item
questionnaire and performed multiple logistic regression to investigate the factors associated
with low medication adherence.
Results: The overall prevalence of low medication adherence was 46.3% (95% CI: 41.4–55.8%)
of our study population. Multiple logistic regression analysis revealed that males (OR: 1.37;
95% CI: 1.13–1.67), those with a family income of < 233 USD (OR: 1.54, 95% CI: 1.17–2.03), and
those with a diabetic ulcer (OR: 1.42, 95% CI: 1.04–1.94) showed low adherence. Diabetic
ulcers, retinopathy, and obesity were relatively more elevated among diabetic patients with
low medication adherence.
Conclusion: Low medication adherence among patients with type 2 diabetes in southern
Bangladesh is a key public health challenge. Factors such as male sex, low annual family
income, and diabetic ulcers were associated with low medication adherence. Patient counsel-
ing and awareness programs may enhance medication adherence among people with type 2
diabetes. Our findings will help physicians and public health workers to develop targeted
strategies to increase awareness of the same among their patients.
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