Category: Parkinson's Disease (Other)
Objective: To explore the barriers to healthcare utilization and adherence to medications among people living with Parkinson’s disease in Senegal, and propose context-informed strategies to address these barriers.
Background: Parkinson’s disease is a chronic and disabling neurodegenerative disorder whose effective management requires consistent adherence to medications and access to healthcare services. However, in developing settings like Senegal, there may be multiple barriers to accessing healthcare services and adhering to treatment regimens.
Method: We conducted a mixed methods study among 30 participants with Parkinson’s disease and their caregivers recruited from neurology clinics in Dakar, Senegal. For the qualitative
component, semi-structured interviews were used to collect data and data analysis was done using thematic analysis based on a grounded theory approach. The Morisky
medication adherence scale was used to assess medication adherence.
Results: Most patients had medium scores for adherence. Seventy-five (75%) percent of the participants reported experiencing barriers to healthcare utilization with the most
common barriers being geographical accessibility (limited access to Parkinson’s disease-treating facilities, especially in rural areas), financial constraints (high costs of healthcare services, medications, and transportation), lack of awareness (limited knowledge about Parkinson’s disease among healthcare providers and patients). The most consistently reported barriers to medication adherence were high costs, limited availability, and frequent stockouts followed by cognitive impairments (memory impairment), complexity of treatment regimens (multiple medications and dosing schedules), and side effects and tolerability. Solutions identified included task-shifting and community-based care, empowerment and education of patients and healthcare providers, and implementation of medication access programs such as pool procurement and subsidization.
Conclusion: There are multi-level barriers to healthcare utilization and adherence to medications for Parkinson’s disease in Senegal. These barriers are actionable and addressing them is critical to optimizing health outcomes and quality of life for people with Parkinson’s disease in Senegal.
To cite this abstract in AMA style:
M. Njohjam, M. Fall, F. Niakam, J. Kahwagi, A. Diop, M. N, A. Diop. Barriers to Healthcare Utilization and Adherence to Medications among People Living with Parkinson’s Disease in Senegal [abstract]. Mov Disord. 2025; 40 (suppl 1). https://www.mdsabstracts.org/abstract/barriers-to-healthcare-utilization-and-adherence-to-medications-among-people-living-with-parkinsons-disease-in-senegal/. Accessed October 5, 2025.« Back to 2025 International Congress
MDS Abstracts - https://www.mdsabstracts.org/abstract/barriers-to-healthcare-utilization-and-adherence-to-medications-among-people-living-with-parkinsons-disease-in-senegal/