Treatment adherence and Associated Factors among Patients With breast Cancer in Ethiopia, systematic review and meta-analysis

Background Breast cancer is the most common cancer among women globally. In Ethiopia, limited healthcare resources and socioeconomic constraints impede treatment adherence. This review evaluates treatment adherence among Ethiopian breast cancer patients and suggests targeted interventions. Methods Following PRISMA guidelines, we searched PubMed, MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL, Google Scholar, Science Direct, and Cochrane Library for English-language studies on breast cancer treatment adherence in Ethiopia. Observational studies on female breast cancer patients were included, with data extracted using Endnote X7. The Newcastle-Ottawa Scale assessed study quality and STATA Version 13 analyzed the data, revealing high heterogeneity. Results Seven studies, with 20,100 participants, were included. The pooled treatment adherence was 51.01% (95% CI: 48.83, 53.20), with significant heterogeneity (I² = 98.9%, p < 0.001). Key factors associated with adherence included no treatment side effects (OR: 5.34, 95% CI: 3.52, 7.16), family history of breast cancer (OR: 3.12, 95% CI: 1.95, 4.30), social support (OR: 4.33, 95% CI: 2.76, 5.89), and no comorbidity (OR: 4.33, 95% CI: 2.76, 5.89). Conclusion Treatment adherence among Ethiopian breast cancer patients was low. Higher adherence rates were linked to a lack of treatment side effects, a family history of breast cancer, good social support, and no comorbidity. Strategies should focus on reducing side effects, supporting patients with a family history of breast cancer, strengthening social support systems, and ensuring comprehensive care for comorbidities.