Abstract:
Background: Low knowledge about diabetes risk factors coupled with high disease
prevalence is common in low-resource countries. Identification of the level of knowledge and practice related to diabetes among the general public is important in strategies for prevention of diabetes mellitus. In Ethiopia, there is limited information about KAP of the population towards Diabetes Mellitus. This study evaluated diabetes-related knowledge and practices in the population of Bole and Lideta Subcities, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
Objectives: To assess knowledge and practices and factors associated with good practice towards Diabetes Mellitus among adults visiting health facilities in Bole subcity and Lideta subcity, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
Methods: Institutional based cross-sectional study was conducted among non- diabetic adults visiting public health centers using structured interviewer administered questionnaire. The respondents were selected by systematic random sampling at health center level. The analysis was done using STATA version 14.Multivariate analysis was performed to determine factors that will have significant association with practice towards DM.The study was done in two selected health centres in Bole and Lideta Subcities, Addis Ababa.
Results: Out of 412 respondents participated and gave a response rate of 97.8%. About 58.7% of the participants were knowledgeable and 67.2% had good practice towards DM prevention. In the multivariate analysis, being government/private employee, previous training on diabetes and having good knowledge were associated significantly with practice. The odds of good practice regarding DM prevention among Government/private employee study participants were 2.2 times greater than the odds of good practice for housewives [AOR = 2.2(1.16,4.3)]. The odds of good practice regarding DM among study participants who had previous training on DM were 2.6 times greater than the odds of good practice for study subjects with no previous training on DM [AOR = 2.6(1,6.2)]. The odds of good practice regarding DM prevention among study participants who had good knowledge level were 2 times greater than the odds of good practice for study participants with poor knowledge level about diabetes [AOR = 2(1.3,3.3)].
Conclusion and Recommendation: Low knowledge was seen and the practice towards DM prevention among the participants was low indicating the need of health education. The means of improving knowledge and good practice towards DM needs to be integrated into existing health care systems................... Thesis available at ACIPH Library