Intimate partner violence prevalence and its effect on medication adherence and relapses among patients with chronic mental disorders at Ndera neuropsychiatric hospital

Abstract

Background: The intimate partner violence (IPV) is considered a public health concern with serious human right abuse. This study evaluated the impact of IPV on medication adherence and/or relapses among patients with chronic mental disorders who consult the HNP CARAES Ndera. Methods: This study is designed as a quantitative, descriptive and comparative study that used the HITS (HURT, INSULT, THREATEN, SCREAM) tool to screen IPV, MARS (MEDICATION ADHERENCE RATING SCALE) questionnaire to evaluate medication adherence while the number of relapses were determined using the medical file review over the last 12 months. Results: The prevalence of IPV among patients followed for mental problems was founded to be at 28%. Patients who were found to have IPV had 3.48 odds of having relapses in the past 12 months compared to patients who did not have IPV and the difference was statistically significant (OR=3.48; 95% CI:2.14-5.65; p<0.001). Patients who were found to have IPV had 3.48 odds of having relapses in the past 12 months as those who did not have IPV (OR=3.48; 95% CI: 2.14-5.65; p<0.001). Females were 5.7 times more likely to have IPV as male patients (OR=5.75; 95% CI: 3.26-10.17; p<0.001). Conclusion: Of our study participants, women are founded to be more concerned by IPV which showed their association with poor medication adherence and to increase the number of disease relapses.