Barreras asociadas a la adherencia al tratamiento de tuberculosis en Cali y Buenaventura, Colombia, 2012

Objective: to determine obstacles associated with the adherence to the strictly supervised treatment of tuberculosis (TB) in two municipalities of Colombia. Methods: case studies (128) and controls (182). Univariate, bivariate, and logistic regression analyzes were performed. Results: the factors associated with nonadherence to TB treatment were: no cohabitation with relatives (OR = 4.54, 95% CI 1.45-14.22), non-attendance to religious meetings (OR = 28.17, 95% CI 4.37-181.75), no antecedents regarding dealing with an illness lasting over two weeks (OR = 3.37, 95% CI 1.59-7.13), did not recognize that TB treatment lasts for up to six months (OR = 3.51, 95% CI 1.87-6.59), drug use (OR = 3.41 , 95% CI 0.95-12.23), occasional lack of treatment supplies by the health services (OR = 5.53, 95% CI 1.20-5.52). Conclusions: The design and development of strategies to ensure adherence to TB treatment must take into account, in addition to the individual behavioral factors of patients, the social and administrative factors that affect their success.