Adherence to Medication, Dietary and Physical Activity Recommendations: Findings From a Multicenter Cross-Sectional Study Among Adults With Diabetes in Rural South Africa.

Abstract

Diabetes is a complex health condition requiring medical therapy and lifestyle modifications to attain treatment targets. Previous studies have not fully explored factors associated with adherence to medication, diets and physical activity recommendations among individuals living with diabetes in rural South Africa. We examined the association between knowledge, health belief and adherence to medication, dietary, and physical activity recommendations and explored self-reported reasons for non-adherence. This cross-sectional study was conducted among 399 individuals living with diabetes recruited over 12 weeks from six randomly selected primary healthcare centres in rural South Africa. Sociodemographic and clinical data were obtained by self-report. Health beliefs, knowledge, and adherence were assessed using validated measures. Descriptive and inferential statistics were carried out.