A Descriptive Study to Assess the Knowledge Regarding Diabetes Mellitus, Its Risk Factors and Complication among the Rural Community Sadiq, Faridkot (Punjab).

Dr. Virendra Singh Choudhary¹, Mrs. Geeta Chaudhary²

¹Vice Principal & HOD, Department of Medical Surgical Nursing, Faridkot.

²Lecturer, Department of OBG Nursing, Dasmesh College of Nursing, Faridkot.

Corresponding Author Email: Singhviren81@gmail.com, geeta80viren@gmail.com

ABSTRACT:

Objective – To determine the baseline level of knowledge level of awareness amongst a rural community about Diabetes mellitus (irrespective of type 1 or type 2), its risk factors and complications.

Methods – A cross sectional survey conducted at the community of village Sadiq, Faridkot, Punjab in March- April 2014. A structured questionnaire was used and 300 adults (age>18years) were assessed on their knowledge regarding awareness of Diabetes mellitus (DM), its risk factors and complications. All data was re-validated and analyzed.

Result – out of 300 adults subjected to the survey, only 46.66% (140) adults had any awareness of DM. adult with no regular exercise were 69.33% (208) and 73.33%(220) did not have healthy eating habits. Awareness of risk factor was present in 25.33% (76) while awareness about complication associated with the DM was 28.33% (85). Adult which reported as never going for regular checkup to any clinic or hospital were 70% (210). Family history of DM was statistically significant associated with awareness about DM (65%vs 32%, p<0.001), people who were in contact regularly with health care provider were more aware about diabetes and the associated risk factors than those who were not (70%vs 35%, p<0.001). Sex was not associated (p=0.28) with awareness about DM, nor was the education (p=0.46).

Conclusions - Majority of adults were unaware of DM itself and associated risk factor. Raising public awareness of the disease through outreach programmes and mass media should be planned and implemented.

KEYWORDS: DM (Diabetes mellitus)

INTRODUCTION:

Diabetes Mellitus is a silent disease and is now recognized as one of the fastest growing threat to public health in almost all countries of the World. It is also called the disease of prosperities. Prevention is better than cure and is less expensive.³

Around 150 Million people suffer from diabetes in the World out of which above 35 million are Indians the highest in any country. Every fifth person who suffer from diabetes in the world today is an Indian.⁴

By 2030 Indian will have 79.4 Million diabetic projects the WHO (Word Health Organization) that’s more than twice the current number over 35million cases. No wonder India is the Diabetic Capital of the World”.⁶

The prevalence of diabetes in Punjab is so high due to prevalence of risk factor such as obesity.

NEED OF THE STUDY:

Nutrition related risk factors often work synergistically to adversely affect the health status of older people, and these risk factors may lead to and increased rate of medical complications and result in loss of independence, institutionalization and higher health care costs for people affected. According to WHO in 2004, more than 150 million people worldwide Suffer from some form of diabetes in India. It has been estimated that presently 19.4 million individuals are affected by diabetes and the numbers expected to increase to 57.2 million by the year 2005 (one six of the world total) ^1,2

According to Indian press (2004) Hyderabad and Chennai are the diabetes capital of India. Hyderabad tops the metro politician cities in the prevalence of Diabetes (16.6%), Followed by Chennai (13.5%), Bangalore (12.4%), Kolkata (11.75%), New Delhi (11.6), and Mumbai (9.3%). The most important aspect of diabetes is the occurrence of complications that increase the cost of management. A diabetic patient spends Rs.4510 per year.⁵

The population in India has an increase in adults was found to be 2.47 in rural and 4.0-11.6 in urban dwellers. High frequencies of impaired glucose tolerance shown by studies ranging form 3.6 to 9.17 indicates the potential for further rise in prevalence of diabetes mellitus in the coming decades.⁷

MATERIAL AND METHODOLOGY:

A cross sectional Survey was carried out by the researcher at Sadiq (Rural faridkot) during March-April 2014. Pre-designed pilot tested questionnaire was used for data collection. For the feasibility the questionnaire was translated in the local language (Punjabi) and back translated to English to ensure validity. Lay man terminology “sugar’ is used instead of Diabetes mellitus for better understanding of condition. Independent variables in the study were age, gender, educational status, family history of DM and regular visit to health care provider. Dependent variables were awareness level about DM, risk factors and complications. EPI-info 6.0 used to calculate the sample size. Anticipated awareness level of community about DM was 20%, for 95%confidance interval and precision of + 5%., the sample size calculated was 246 and for contingencies the sample size was increased to 300. Systematic Random sampling method was used to select the sample. The SPSS version 10.0 statistical software was used for statistical analysis. The Chi-square test was used to investigate the association of awareness of DM with various independent variables at the level of p<0.05.

Table -1 Demographic Characteristics of sample N=300

S/N	Demographic Variables	Frequency	Percentage
1	Gender a. Male b. Female	180 120	60 40
2	Educational Status a. Illiterate b. Primary c. Secondary d. Graduate e. Postgraduate	120 80 40 50 10	40 26.66 13.33 16.66 3.33

RESULTS AND FINDINGS:

The total sample size for this study was three hundred. The age distribution for the whole sample was 41 ± 15 years. Majority of them were Males (60%). The distribution of gender and educational status among the study subjects is shown in table-1more then a third of adults had no formal education while only 10 adults had post graduation. Majority of people 180 had received some formal education.

Table -2 Knowledge/ awareness regarding Diabetes mellitus. N=300

S/ N	Variables	Frequency	Percentage
1	Awareness a. Yes b. No	140 160	46.66 53.33
2	Regular checkup a. Yes b. No	90 210	30 70
3	Management a. Diet b. Exercise c. Medication d. Diet & Exercise e. Diet & Medication f. Diet, Exercise and Medication g. Not following	20 10 20 10 15 18 207	6.66 3.33 6.66 3.33 05 06 69
4.	Blood Sugar checked a. Daily b. Weekly c. Monthly d. Never	10 15 72 203	3.33 05 24 67.66
5.	Regular diet a. Regular diet regimen b. No diet regimen	80 220	26.66 73.33
6	Regular exercise a. Yes b. No	92 208	30.66 69.33
7.	Knowledge of own weight a. Yes b. No	130 170	43.33 56.66
8	Awareness of complication a. Yes b. No	85 215	28.33 71.66
9	Knowledge of risk factors a. Yes b. No	76 224	25.33 74.66
10.	Family history of diabetes mellitus a. Yes b. No	88 212	29.33 70.66
11.	Known diabetes for a. <5 years b. 5-10 years c. >10 years d. Not knowing	50 70 90 90	16.66 23.33 30 30

The above table-2 shows that in survey 46.66 % subjects claims to aware regarding DM, 224 adults were unaware of any predisposing risk factors, even 203 adults never had their blood sugar checked, while 170 subjects unaware about own weight and 220 adults had absolutely no regular diet regimen in their day to day life. Further, 215 adults were unable to say that they had any idea as to what the complication of DM might be. The low level

of awareness regarding DM is not surprising as 210 people out of 300 reported that they never went for regular checkup to any health center or clinic.

Table -3 depicts the association between Knowledge/ Awareness level of DM and with selected variables gender, educational status and family history of DM. This study shows that 42.77% male and 43.33% females were aware, but this difference was not statistically significant (P=0.21), people who had formal education (53.34%) compared to people who are illiterate (41.66%), was not statistically significant (P=0.44). a positive family history was found to be associated with level of awareness, as 64.77% of adults with family history were aware of DM, while only 36.32% of people without family history were aware about DM (P<0.001).

Table -3 Association of Knowledge/ awareness with various independent variables (N=300)

S/N	Variables	People aware	People not aware	Odds ratio (95% CI)	Pvalue *
1	Gender a. Male (n=180) b. Female (n=120)	77 (42.77%) 52 (43.33%)	103 (57.22%) 68 (56.67%)	1.35 (0.84, 2.2)	0.21
2	Educational Status a. Illiterate b. Some Formal Education	50 (41.66%) 96 (53.34%)	70 (58.34%) 84 (46.66%)	0.67 (0.43,1.2)	0.44
3	Family history of DM a. Yes b. No	57 (64.77%) 77 (36.32%)	31 (35.27%) 135 (63.67%)	3.97 (2.38, 6.61)	<0.001

*Chi-square test used

DISCUSSION:

The finding of the study indicates that a significant number of population have little or no awareness of DM. it had previously been shown that the level of awareness was poor amongst diabetes and possible outcome of the disease.⁸ The study however shows that people who are regularly in touch with their health care providers for various health issues are more aware about the disease and its risk factors. This bring the attention the role of health care provider specially the community health workers and practitioners of their patients and the general community to develop the awareness regarding diabetes mellitus.¹¹ Awareness about Diabetes mellitus was found to be similarly low in a community based study in Malaysia.⁹ There was no studies found which could contraindicate the finding of the study. A study conducted in Saudi Arabia were found to have poor knowledge on DM, its risk factors and preventive measure, Education and age were found to be the most important predictors of knowledge.¹⁰

CONCLUSION:

This study has shown that the rural communities of Sadiq (Faridkot), Punjab are unaware about the risk and complication of Diabetes mellitus. The majority of people who are aware because of family history of disease. To enhance the knowledge and awareness of DM, a formal, structured approach should be designed to deliver the necessary education to the rural people through mass media and health education programme. This study is highlighted the need of patients and public education regarding Diabetes mellitus.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT:

Our sincere appreciation goes to all the participants for being cooperated in the study and our daughter Pari and son Geetesh for their effortless support during this and our Director Sir Dr. Gurusevak Singh ji for his encouragement for research works.

INTEREST OF CONFLICT / ETHICAL CLEARANCE/ SOURCE OF FUNDING-

No interests of conflict, this study not require ethical clearance and this study was self funded.

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Received on 09.12.2014 Modified on 07.01.2015

Accepted on 13.02.2015 © A&V Publication all right reserved

Asian J. Nur. Edu. and Research 5(2): April-June 2015; Page 251-253

DOI: 10.5958/2349-2996.2015.00049.X