Medication Adherence and Quality of Life among Adults with Schizophrenia in Northwestern Nigeria: A Multicentre Cross-Sectional Study


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Authors

  • Ado Shehu Department of Community, Psychiatric, and Mental Health Nursing, College of Nursing, Qassim University, Buraydah, Saudi Arabia.
  • Nasiru Mohammed Abdullahi Department of Nursing Sciences, Faculty of Allied Health Sciences Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University Bauchi, Nigeria
  • Zulkiflu Musa Argungu Department of Nursing, College of Applied Sciences, AlMaarefa University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
  • Fatima Musa Aliyu Department of Community, Psychiatric, and Mental Health Nursing, College of Nursing, Qassim University, Buraydah, Saudi Arabia
  • Azza Elsayed Abd Elfatah Arafat Department of Emergency, King Fahad Specialist Hospital Buraydah, Saudi Arabia.
  • Attahir Sa’ad Ayuba Department of Pharmaceutical Science, Sardar Patel University, India
  • Ummukulsum Mustapha Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, Khadija University Majia, Jigawa State, Nigeria.
  • Fatima Zubairu Yakubu Department of Nursing Sciences, Faculty of Allied Health Sciences Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University Bauchi, Nigeria
  • Rakiya Saleh Department of Community, Psychiatric, and Mental Health Nursing, College of Nursing, Qassim University, Buraydah, Saudi Arabia.
  • Adam Ibrahim Abdullahi Department of Public Health, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, Sa’adu Zungur University Bauchi, Nigeria.
  • Abdullahi Ali Ngala Department of Nursing, Armed Force Hospital Taif Region. KSA

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.69606/jps.v4i03.564

Keywords:

Schizophrenia, Medication adherence, Quality of life, Antipsychotics, Nigeria

Abstract

Background: Schizophrenia severely impacts quality of life (QoL), and medication adherence is crucial for managing symptoms and preventing relapse. However, adherence remains a significant challenge in resource-limited settings. Aims: This study aimed to evaluate the relationship between medication adherence and quality of life among adult patients with schizophrenia in North-Western Nigeria. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted involving 865 patients across seven states in North-Western Nigeria. Participants were selected using a multistage sampling technique. Adherence and QoL were assessed using the 8-item Morisky Medication Adherence Scale (MMAS-8) and the WHOQOL-BREF, respectively. Data analysis included descriptive statistics, chi-square tests, and binary logistic regression (p < 0.05). Results: Findings revealed that 44.9% of participants had good adherence, 32.8% had moderate adherence, and 22.3% were poorly or non-adherent. Significant predictors of non-adherence included high medication costs (AOR = 4.25), adverse side effects (AOR = 3.14), poor drug accessibility (AOR = 2.94), polypharmacy (AOR = 2.71), and low educational attainment (AOR = 2.08). Good medication adherence was significantly associated with improved QoL across the physical, psychological, social, and environmental domains (p < 0.001). Conclusion: Medication adherence among these patients is suboptimal, primarily due to socio-economic and clinical barriers. Since adherence strongly predicts improved QoL, interventions should focus on affordable medication access, side-effect management, and psychoeducation.

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Published

2026-09-29

How to Cite

Shehu, A., Abdullahi, N. M., Argungu, Z. M., Aliyu, F. M., Arafat, A. E. A. E., Ayuba, A. S., Mustapha , U., Yakubu, F. Z., Saleh, R., Abdullahi, A. I., & Ngala, A. A. (2026). Medication Adherence and Quality of Life among Adults with Schizophrenia in Northwestern Nigeria: A Multicentre Cross-Sectional Study. Journal of Pubnursing Sciences, 4(03), 113–122. https://doi.org/10.69606/jps.v4i03.564

Issue

Vol. 4 No. 03 (2026): Journal of Pubnursing Sciences (JPS)

Section

Original Research Articles

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Copyright (c) 2026 Ado Shehu, Nasiru Mohammed Abdullahi, Zulkiflu Musa Argungu, Fatima Musa Aliyu, Azza Elsayed Abd Elfatah Arafat, Attahir Sa’ad Ayuba, Ummukulsum Mustapha , Fatima Zubairu Yakubu, Rakiya Saleh, Adam Ibrahim Abdullahi, Abdullahi Ali Ngala

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