Education level and Economic Status in Increasing Adherence to Medication of Pulmonary Tuberculosis Patients

Abstract

Compliance with taking medication is one of the important things to increase the TB cure rate because
non-adherence can lead to resistance and disease transmission. Factors that affect compliance include
education level, socioeconomic, knowledge, motivation and family support. This study aims to
determine the relationship between education level and economic status with TB patient compliance in
the city of Semarang. This study used an analytic observational method with a cross sectional approach.
The research was conducted in the districts of Genuk, Mijen, West Semarang, and Tugu Kota Semarang.
The research data were obtained from the results of filling out the MMAS-8 questionnaire and direct
interviews. Data were analyzed by using Rank Spearman correlation test. Univariate analysis showed
that the majority of respondents had high medication adherence (56.7%). Bivariate study showed that
there was a significant relationship between education level and medication adherence in pulmonary
tuberculosis patients (p = 0.000), and there was a significant relationship between economic status and
medication adherence in pulmonary tuberculosis patients (p = 0.000). The conclusion of this study is
that higher level of education and economic status will lead to obedient behavior in taking medicine
because it is related to the knowledge they have and the fulfillment of life's needs
Keywords: education, economy, medication adherence, tuberculosis