Abstract:
Cross-sectional study was conducted among rheumatic heart disease patients at Hiwot
Fana Specialized Comprehensive University Hospital at cardiac clinic. The research was
conducted among 240 rheumatic heart disease patients, who are on follow-up for at least 1 year
at pediatric and medical cardiac clinic as well as those who were admitted to pediatric ward and
medical ward, and study participants were sellected by purposive sampling technique. Data were
entered to EPI data version 4.6 and analyzed using SPSS version 26 software. Descriptive
statistics were done and the results were presented using texts, frequency tables and graphs.
Bivariate and multivariate logistic regression with 95% CI were used to identify factors
associated with level of adherence. Finally, statistical significance will be declared with a P value
of less than 0.05.
Results: A total of 240 rheumatic heart disease patients taking secondary prophylaxis were
included in the analysis, and of those, 123 (51.8%) were male, and a male to female ratio of
1.05:1. The mean age of participants was 13.59 years. The adherence rate of patients with
rheumatic heart disease to secondary prophylaxis was 72.9%(95% CI 66.8-77.9%). Being a rural
residence(AOR 2.813(95% CI 1.396-9.065),p=0.035), distance more than 20Km from
hospital(AOR 4.493(95% CI 1.672-12.070), p=0.003), and lack of awareness of disease(AOR
2.465(95% CI 1.103-5.507) p=0.028) were significantly associated with non adherence to
secondary prophylaxis.
Conclusion: A high magnitude of non-adharence to secondary prophylaxis was observed in
patients with RHD at Hiwot Fana Sepecialized Comprehesive University Hospital. Patients with
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RHD who live in rural area, came from distance of > 20Km, and lack of awareness of the disease
were identified to be non-adherent to secondary prophylaxis.
