Knowledge, attitudes and practice of patients diagnosed with diabetes regarding diabetic self-care management in intermediate Rundu hospital, Kavango east region

Diabetes is a chronic disease that occurs either when the pancreas does not produce enough insulin or when the body cannot effectively use the insulin it produces. The majority of people with diabetes have type 2 diabetes. The study aimed to assess the level of knowledge, attitudes and practice of self-care management among patients diagnosed with diabetes at Rundu Intermediate Hospital. A quantitative, cross-sectional and analytic study was conducted among patients diagnosed with diabetes. Self-reporting questionnaires were used to collect data from 198 participants diagnosed with diabetes mellitus at Rundu Intermediate hospital. The data were analysed using SPSS version 25. Chi-squared test was used to analyse the possible associations among variables. The study findings indicated that the majority of respondents were female 125 (63%) and belonged to the age group of 60 and above 76 (38.4%). Most, 91 (47%), of the patients were uneducated, 115 (58.5%) on oral medications. 79 (39.9%), were on insulin and only 4 (2%) were on both oral medication and insulin. Almost half, 97 (49%) of patients had adequate knowledge regarding self-care management mainly on domains such as meal plan 184 (92.9%), medication-taking 195 (98.5%), and physical exercise 112 (56.6%). However, 154 (77.8%) had inadequate knowledge of diabetic foot care. The study revealed average attitudes 113 (57.4%) toward self-care management. Poor practice was observed in glucose monitoring 111 (59%). The study found a highly significant association knowledge among participants with university and secondary education levels. Finally, he study found a significant association between age, education level and employment status with the practice of self-care management of diabetes p-<0.05. Awareness creation to the community through health education should be emphasised on lifestyle changes, physical exercise, and foot care, cessation of smoking and healthy dietary habits.

Grantor dc:publisher

University of Namibia

Year dc:date.issued

2022

Author dc:creator

• Sakeus, Jacobina

• Knowledge
• Attitudes
• Self-care
• Practice
• Diabetes Mellitus

Language dc:language.iso

en

Handle dc:identifier.uri

http://hdl.handle.net/11070/3557

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:repository.unam.edu.na:11070/3557