Adherence to benzathine penicillin prophylaxis and associated factors in patients with rheumatic heart disease attending two public hospitals in Bahir dar, Ethiopia

Abstract Background Regular intramuscular injection of benzathine penicillin every two to four weeks is a critical and cost-effective secondary prevention strategy for reducing morbidity and mortality from rheumatic heart disease (RHD), particularly in resource-limited settings like Ethiopia. Howeve...

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Main Authors: Gubaynew Getie Kelemu, Yohannes Tekleab Yihun, Destaw Endeshaw, Eyob Ketema Bogale
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2025-08-01
Series:BMC Cardiovascular Disorders
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s12872-025-05069-w
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author Gubaynew Getie Kelemu
Yohannes Tekleab Yihun
Destaw Endeshaw
Eyob Ketema Bogale
author_facet Gubaynew Getie Kelemu
Yohannes Tekleab Yihun
Destaw Endeshaw
Eyob Ketema Bogale
author_sort Gubaynew Getie Kelemu
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Background Regular intramuscular injection of benzathine penicillin every two to four weeks is a critical and cost-effective secondary prevention strategy for reducing morbidity and mortality from rheumatic heart disease (RHD), particularly in resource-limited settings like Ethiopia. However, there is limited evidence of adherence to this prophylaxis. Therefore, this study aimed to assess adherence to benzathine penicillin prophylaxis used for secondary prevention and its associated factors among patients with RHD attending follow-up clinics at two public referral hospitals in Bahir Dar, Ethiopia. Methods A hospital-based cross-sectional study was conducted among 346 patients with RHD attending the follow-up clinic at Tibebe Ghion and Felege Hiwot specialized hospitals from October 1st, 2023 to January 20, 2024. Data was collected through questionnaire-based face-to-face interviews and a review of medical records. The data was entered into EpiData version 3.1 and exported to SPSS version 27 for analysis. Binary logistic regression analysis was performed to identify factors associated with good adherence to benzathine penicillin prophylaxis. Adjusted odds ratio at a p-value of less than 0.05 was used to assess the strength of the statistical association. Results Among 346 patients with RHD (97% response rate), the study found an overall adherence rate of 63.6% (95% CI, 58.6–68.8) to benzathine penicillin G (BPG) prophylaxis. Factors associated with good adherence included mild to moderate pain at the injection site (AOR = 2.44; 95% CI 1.45–4.09), good awareness of the purpose of BPG (AOR = 1.99; 95% CI, 1.11–3.59), urban residence of patients (AOR = 3.58, 95% CI 1.99–6.41), prophylaxis duration of ≤ 5 years (AOR = 4.15, 95% CI 1.58–10.88), prophylaxis duration 5–10 years (AOR = 3.83, 95% CI 1.32–11.13), and no history of admission in the last year (AOR = 3.05; 95% CI 1.67–5.54). Conclusions The level of good adherence in this study is sub-optimal. Factors positively associated with adherence included urban residence, mild to moderate injection site pain, awareness of BPG purpose, shorter prophylaxis duration, and absence of recent hospital admissions. To improve adherence, healthcare providers should implement targeted patient education programs and adopt effective pain management strategies as part of routine follow-up care.
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spelling doaj-art-60c2dea255f843e0b935f3ccc188b8cc2025-08-20T03:42:23ZengBMCBMC Cardiovascular Disorders1471-22612025-08-012511910.1186/s12872-025-05069-wAdherence to benzathine penicillin prophylaxis and associated factors in patients with rheumatic heart disease attending two public hospitals in Bahir dar, EthiopiaGubaynew Getie Kelemu0Yohannes Tekleab Yihun1Destaw Endeshaw2Eyob Ketema Bogale3Department of Internal Medicine, School of medicine, College of medicine and health science, Debre Markos UniversityDepartment of Internal Medicine Cardiac Unit, School of Medicine, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Bahir Dar UniversityDepartment of Adult Health Nursing, School of Health Science, College of Medicine and Health Science, Bahir Dar UniversityDepartment of Health Promotion and Behavioral Science, School of public health, College of medicine and health science, Bahir Dar UniversityAbstract Background Regular intramuscular injection of benzathine penicillin every two to four weeks is a critical and cost-effective secondary prevention strategy for reducing morbidity and mortality from rheumatic heart disease (RHD), particularly in resource-limited settings like Ethiopia. However, there is limited evidence of adherence to this prophylaxis. Therefore, this study aimed to assess adherence to benzathine penicillin prophylaxis used for secondary prevention and its associated factors among patients with RHD attending follow-up clinics at two public referral hospitals in Bahir Dar, Ethiopia. Methods A hospital-based cross-sectional study was conducted among 346 patients with RHD attending the follow-up clinic at Tibebe Ghion and Felege Hiwot specialized hospitals from October 1st, 2023 to January 20, 2024. Data was collected through questionnaire-based face-to-face interviews and a review of medical records. The data was entered into EpiData version 3.1 and exported to SPSS version 27 for analysis. Binary logistic regression analysis was performed to identify factors associated with good adherence to benzathine penicillin prophylaxis. Adjusted odds ratio at a p-value of less than 0.05 was used to assess the strength of the statistical association. Results Among 346 patients with RHD (97% response rate), the study found an overall adherence rate of 63.6% (95% CI, 58.6–68.8) to benzathine penicillin G (BPG) prophylaxis. Factors associated with good adherence included mild to moderate pain at the injection site (AOR = 2.44; 95% CI 1.45–4.09), good awareness of the purpose of BPG (AOR = 1.99; 95% CI, 1.11–3.59), urban residence of patients (AOR = 3.58, 95% CI 1.99–6.41), prophylaxis duration of ≤ 5 years (AOR = 4.15, 95% CI 1.58–10.88), prophylaxis duration 5–10 years (AOR = 3.83, 95% CI 1.32–11.13), and no history of admission in the last year (AOR = 3.05; 95% CI 1.67–5.54). Conclusions The level of good adherence in this study is sub-optimal. Factors positively associated with adherence included urban residence, mild to moderate injection site pain, awareness of BPG purpose, shorter prophylaxis duration, and absence of recent hospital admissions. To improve adherence, healthcare providers should implement targeted patient education programs and adopt effective pain management strategies as part of routine follow-up care.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12872-025-05069-wAdherenceBenzathine penicillin gRheumatic heart diseaseSecondary prophylaxis
spellingShingle Gubaynew Getie Kelemu
Yohannes Tekleab Yihun
Destaw Endeshaw
Eyob Ketema Bogale
Adherence to benzathine penicillin prophylaxis and associated factors in patients with rheumatic heart disease attending two public hospitals in Bahir dar, Ethiopia
BMC Cardiovascular Disorders
Adherence
Benzathine penicillin g
Rheumatic heart disease
Secondary prophylaxis
title Adherence to benzathine penicillin prophylaxis and associated factors in patients with rheumatic heart disease attending two public hospitals in Bahir dar, Ethiopia
title_full Adherence to benzathine penicillin prophylaxis and associated factors in patients with rheumatic heart disease attending two public hospitals in Bahir dar, Ethiopia
title_fullStr Adherence to benzathine penicillin prophylaxis and associated factors in patients with rheumatic heart disease attending two public hospitals in Bahir dar, Ethiopia
title_full_unstemmed Adherence to benzathine penicillin prophylaxis and associated factors in patients with rheumatic heart disease attending two public hospitals in Bahir dar, Ethiopia
title_short Adherence to benzathine penicillin prophylaxis and associated factors in patients with rheumatic heart disease attending two public hospitals in Bahir dar, Ethiopia
title_sort adherence to benzathine penicillin prophylaxis and associated factors in patients with rheumatic heart disease attending two public hospitals in bahir dar ethiopia
topic Adherence
Benzathine penicillin g
Rheumatic heart disease
Secondary prophylaxis
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s12872-025-05069-w
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