Adherence to Plasmodium vivax malaria treatment in Hanura Public Health Center, Pesawaran District of Indonesia

Background: The Indonesian government has put malaria as a priority disease that needs to be addressed. Lampung is one of the provinces with a high malaria incidence with Annual Paracite Incidence at 4.44 per 1000 population. The most cases occurred in Pesawaran Regency. There were 1.915 malaria cases in 2016. The highest positive case of malaria occurred in the Hanura Health Center with 1.738 cases, with the most cases being vivax malaria. The high case of malaria in the region is due to the favorable natural conditions as mosquito breeding places such as forests, lagoons and abandoned ponds. One of the biggest challenges in the treatment of malaria is the decline in the efficacy of even anti-malaria drug resistance due to low adherence in taking the drug. So this research is important to know the level of adherence to take medication in patients with vivax malaria in the work area of the Hanura Health Center. Methods: This research was a descriptive analytic study with survey methods. Morisky Medication Adherence Scale (MMAS-8) questionnaire was used as the instrument. Eligible patients’who had undergone treatment with Artemisinin-based Combination Therapy and primaquine for 14 days were The subject of study. They were numbered 68 people in the working area of Hanura Health Center. Results: The level of adherence to take medication in patients with vivax malaria in the working area of Hanura Health Center is classified as low, namely a high compliance rate of 44.1% and a low compliance rate of 55.9%. The highest proportion of respondents with low levels of adherence were aged 25-45 years (55.3%), low education level (81.6%), working (57.9%), and having a history of malaria more than once (94, 7%). Conclusions: The level of adherence to take treatment in patients with vivax malaria in the working area of Hanura Health Center is relatively low, with the highest proportion of adults, low education, work and have a history of malaria more than once.