TREATMENT ADHERENCE AND SOCIAL SUPPORT AMONG WOMEN WITH SCHIZOPHRENIA

Abstract

Introduction:Women with schizophrenia face several challenges in terms of treatment adherence and social support. Most people with schizophrenia in low- and middle-income countries like India receive minimal formal care and poor social support,which further influence high non-adherence to medication. Methodology: The descriptive research design has been adopted, and 60-women with schizophrenia were recruited for the study from out-patient services of NIMHANS Hospital,Bengaluru.Subjects were selected by using a consecutive sampling method. The researcher used a self-prepared checklist to assess Treatment Adherence among Women with Schizophrenia (TAWS) and the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS) to collect the data. Results:Adherence to treatment among women with schizophrenia has been influenced by many factors such as other family activities are getting clash with the therapy,affordability,longer duration of treatment,accessibility,side effects of medicine, social stigma, misconceptions about medicine, resistance to taking medication, negative attitude towards treatment,repeated blood investigations and complex follow-ups,etc. Social Support from Family and significant others are negatively correlated with Treatment adherence among women with Schizophrenia. Conclusion: Poor adherence to treatment in patients with schizophrenia is a significant risk factor for poor outcomes, including relapse, re-hospitalization, and suicide. A thorough understanding of the multiple factors that influence adherence among women with schizophrenia would better deal with this problem.