Access Barriers in Mental Health and Adherence to Antidepressant Treatment in a Community Center, Lima-Peru

Choctaya G.L.C.; Reluz C.G.C. · Revista Cubana de Salud Publica (2025)

Resumen

Introduction: Depressive disorders are one of the most prevalent worldwide. Lack of adherence to antidepressant treatment is a problem in these patients. Furthermore, they frequently experience access barriers related to stigma, attitudinal and instrumental. Objective: To determine the relationship between mental health access barriers and adherence to antidepressant treatment in adults Methods: It was a quantitative, correlational, cross-sectional study in a Community Mental Health Center in the district of Villa el Salvador in Lima, Peru, during the period from June to November 2023, on a universe of 162 adult patients. Non-probabilistic convenience sampling was carried out, including a total of 104 patients with depression and antidepressant pharmacological treatment. Two valid and reliable surveys were used: The Barriers to Access to Care Assessment scale (BACE), which has 3 dimensions, and the 8-item Morisky Medication Adherence scale (MMAS-8). The Chi-Square measure of association was used with a p<0.005. Results: The average age of the patients was 40.4 years (SD±14.95), 83.7% female. 48.1% of patients identified all access barriers at a medium level and 46.2% had low adherence. Of the total number of patients who identified access barriers at a high level, the majority (72.7%) had low adherence. A statistically significant association was found (p<0.01) and a correlation value of-0.310 between both variables. Conclusions: Access barriers in mental health are related to adherence to antidepressant treatment.

Instituciones: Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos