Diabetic Awareness Study and Factors affecting it, in Diabetic Patients in Hospital Nakfa, Rural Eritrea

Abstract

Background: Diabetes mellitus is becoming the most prevailing non-communicable disease creating a burden to the health care system. The objective of this study was to assess awareness regarding diabetes mellitus and factors affecting the awareness levels. Methodology: A Hospital based cross-sectional study was conducted among all diabetic patients in follow-up of Nakfa Hospital. Interviewer administered questionnaire was used as data collection tool. Frequency distribution and tables were used and Independent sample t-tests and one way ANOVA of post hoc tests were used for data analysis. Results: A total of Ninety-two diabetic patients participated in this study. More than half (66.3%) were males with a mean age of 44.5±18.2. Nearly half (47.8%) of them were illiterate and 77.2% were unemployed. The mean scores on general knowledge, diabetic complication knowledge and self-care practice were observed to be 75.4%. Poor score was observed regarding general knowledge and self-care practice, 70.5% and 73.4% respectively. High mean score was observed in complication knowledge, 90.6%. Although being female, illiterate and short duration of illness was associated with low scores but it was not statistically significant. Conclusions: patients showed high mean score in complication knowledge and low scores on general knowledge and self-care practice. Frequent health education programs needs to be increased for better control of the disease and its complications. These results could help the policy makers to implement preventive strategies to prevent the complications and enhance the general knowledge of patients on Diabetes mellitus.