Access to Anti-Diabetic Medicines among Patients Attending Tertiary Health Facilities in Oyo State, Nigeria

Oluwaseun  Oladapo Akinyemi; Babatunde Ayeni; Olayinka Stephen Ilesanmi; Oluwatomi   Owopetu

doi:10.18502/ijdo.v13i4.7995

Oluwaseun Oladapo Akinyemi Department of Health Policy and Management, University of Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria.
Babatunde Ayeni Department of Health Policy and Management, University of Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria.
Olayinka Stephen Ilesanmi Department of Community Medicine, College of Medicine, University of Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria
Oluwatomi Owopetu Department of Community Medicine, University College Hospital, Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.18502/ijdo.v13i4.7995

Keywords: Diabetes mellitus, Glycemic control, Anti-diabetic medicines, Nigeria

Abstract

Objective: The management of Diabetes Mellitus (DM) is long-term and can be expensive. This study aimed to describe access to anti-diabetic medicines among patients in tertiary health care facilities in Oyo State, Nigeria.

Materials and Methods: This was a hospital-based cross-sectional study. The study sites were the University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan, and Ladoke Akintola University Teaching Hospital, Ogbomosho. It was conducted among 366 diabetic patients who had been attending the endocrinology clinic of these two tertiary health institutions for at least one year. Data analysis was done with the Statistical Program for Social Sciences.

Results: Female participants were 186 (50.8%) and 298 (85.6%) depended on close relatives to purchase their drugs. Those who had difficulties affording their anti-diabetic medications were 142 (38.8%) and 80 (56.3%) preferred buying a cheaper brand of anti-diabetic medication. Also, 136 (37.2%) respondents had missed their required drugs at some point due to insufficient funds. Males who were able to afford their anti-diabetic medication were 96 (53.3%) compared to 128 (68.8%) females (P-value= 0.002). Those with no formal education had the highest proportion of respondents who could not easily afford anti-diabetic drugs (60.9%), those with tertiary education had the highest proportion of respondents who could afford their medication (77.5%), (P-value=< 0.001). Among those in the 61-70 years age group, 78 (66.1%) achieved glycaemic control compared to 34 (42.5%) of those above 70 years (P-value=< 0.001).

Conclusion: To improve affordability, subsidizing the cost of anti-diabetic medications and encouraging patients to enrol in the Health Insurance Scheme will be beneficial.