Abstract
Over the past 2 decades, the prevalence of diabetes in Mauritius has remained one of the highest in the world with no recent significant improvement. Mauritius ranked 2nd in 2002 and 4th in the world in 2009 with nearly one in five of its adult population above the age of 30 years being affected. Nearly half of those affected do not know that they have the disease and this adversely influences quality of life, risks of complications as well as morbidity and mortality. Despite the availability of free health services, over 50% of diabetes patients are poorly controlled and the risk of complications from diabetes such as cardiovascular diseases, renal failure, blindness, peripheral vascular and neurological diseases leading to lower limb amputations, remain very high. Despite continued efforts from the Ministry of Health and Quality of Life (MOH & QOL) to provide easily accessible diabetes care to all patients, the outcome remains poor. Most of the outpatients and primary health care centres are overcrowded and the set-up does not provide optimal care and attention. Diabetes care is very much medical-orientated and the health promotion campaigns have had little impact so far. Prevention and control of diabetes must become a priority. There is an urgent need for enhanced heath promotion and education, as evidence suggests that a change in diet and lifestyle can bring about significant improvement in the incidence and prevalence of diabetes. This paper examines some of the key actions/ proposals with respect to: evaluation of actions taken, health promotion campaigns, attitude and behavioural change, focused leadership and commitment, marketing strategies, effective segmentation and targeting.
Highlights
The objective of this paper is to examine the actions taken with respect to diabetes prevention and health promotion campaigns in Mauritius and discuss strategies in terms of evaluation of actions/health promotion campaigns, attitude and behavioural change, leadership and commitment, marketing strategies, effective segmentation and targeting
The prevalence of diabetes has increased by over 60% since 1987 in adult Mauritian population aged 25 - 74 years [5]. This alarmingly high prevalence rate of diabetes in Mauritius over the past 24 years clearly indicate that actions taken by the health authority to prevent its incidence has remained largely unsuccessful
There has been an absence of a coherent National Diabetes Prevention Strategy with a clear action plan to achieve specific measurable outcomes
Summary
The objective of this paper is to examine the actions taken with respect to diabetes prevention and health promotion campaigns in Mauritius and discuss strategies in terms of evaluation of actions/health promotion campaigns, attitude and behavioural change, leadership and commitment, marketing strategies, effective segmentation and targeting.Diabetes mellitus can be found in almost every population in the world and epidemiological evidence suggests that, without effective prevention and control programmes, diabetes will likely continue to increase globally [1]. Diabetes mellitus (DM) is one of the most common non-communicable disease globally. It is the fourth or fifth leading cause of death in most high-income countries and there is substantial evidence that it is epidemic in many economically developing and newly industrialized nations [2]. Complications from diabetes, such as coronary artery and peripheral vascular disease, stroke, diabetic neuropathy, amputations, renal failure and blindness are resulting in increasing disability, reduced life expectancy and enormous health costs for virtually every society. Many governments and public health planners still remain largely unaware of the current magnitude, or, more importantly, the future potential for increases in diabetes and its serious complications in their own countries [2,4]
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