Objective: To study the adherence of antiseizures medication in neurology in
the city of Ouagadougou.
Patients and Methods: We conducted a multicentric cross-sectional study on
adherence to antiseizure medications among adult patients with epilepsy followed by outpatient neurology consultations. The patients were recruited from
November 22, 2021 to February 22, 2022 in four departments of neurology.
Adherence to antiseizure medications (ASM) was measured using the Morisky
Medication Adhesion Scale (MMAS). Logistic regression analysis was used to
investigate factors associated with adherence.
Results: One hundred and seven patients with a mean age of 38.92±16.06 years
were included in the study. Most of the patients were men (52.34%). Twenty-eight
patients complied well with ASM (26.17%). The main causes of nonadherence to
treatment were forgetfulness and lack of financial means. Factors associated with
nonadherence were rural residence (p=0.023), celibacy or divorce (p=0.002),
low level of education (p=0.028), perception of stigma (p=0.026), duration of
epilepsy <5 years (p=0.009).
Conclusions: Adherence to ASM is low in Burkina Faso. The main causes of
nonadherence were forgetting and insufficiency of financial resources. Rural residence, celibacy, or divorce, low level of education, perception of stigmatization,
and short duration of epilepsy were associated with non-adherence.
Plain Language Summary: Studies on adherence to antiseizure medications
are rare in Africa while patients do not have access to adequate treatment. The
aim of our study was to evaluate the adherence to antiseizure medications
among patients with epilepsy followed by the neurology departments in the city
of Ouagadougou. Forgetfulness and financial insufficiency were the main causes
of treatment interruption. Our study showed that most of the patients were non adherent. Several factors such as place of residence, level of education, and duration of epilepsy influence the level of compliance.

adherence, antiseizure medications, epilepsy, patients with epilepsy