Factors influencing adherence to treatment among people with leprosy in Costa Rica

Objective: The objective of this study was to identify factors influencing adherence to treatment among people with leprosy in Costa Rica, Central America.

Methodology: An exploratory, qualitative study was conducted among twenty-four participants between 23 and 88 years of age, with leprosy or a history of having suffered from leprosy, who were treated in the public health system. We used semi-structured interviews and a framework analysis method with characteristics of the Health Belief Model.

Results: The Health Belief Model (HBM) framework analysis identifies three categories: meaning of treatment (leprosy is perceived as a disease of the past but with a cure today); practices and understandings about medication adherence (the general perception is that adherence is related to issues with taking medication on time rather than deliberately not complying with treatment or dropping out of the treatment) and treatment dropout (lack of financial resources is described as the leading cause of treatment dropout).

Conclusions: The results of this study highlight the importance of considering patients perspectives within the sociocultural and economic context. Socioeconomic factors are the main reason people drop out of treatment. Supervised therapy and family support are factors that enhance adherence to treatment.