Treatment adherence among primary care patients in a historically disadvantaged community in South Africa - A qualitative study

The present study examined the issue of treatment adherence among a sample of 23 rural South African patients living with either hypertension or diabetes, or both. The sample was asked to participate in qualitative interviews that asked about various aspects of their experience of their illness and treatment. The analysis of the data focused on the content of participants' concerns and difficulties with adhering to treatment recommendations. The themes that emerged from the study were participants' attribution of the origin of their illness, their subjective experience of their illness, their concerns about the consequences of poor adherence, financial problems and psychosocial support.