TITLE:
Social Cultural and Economic Factors Affecting the Practice of Secondary Prevention among Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus at Consolata Nkubu and Meru Level Five Hospital in Meru County
AUTHORS:
Dennis Mugambi Ngari, Annastacia Munzi Mbisi, Teresia Wanjiru Njogu
KEYWORDS:
Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus, Secondary Prevention, Economic Factors, Cultural Factors, Chronic Complications
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Journal of Clinical Diagnostics,
Vol.10 No.1,
January
31,
2020
ABSTRACT: Diabetes is chronic metabolic disorder characterized
by states of hyperglycemia with disturbances of carbohydrates, fat and protein
metabolism. Diabetes affects millions of people globally every day and the
prevalence of the disease is on the rise due to unhealthy diet and lifestyle.
The disorder usually results to chronic complications including cardiovascular
diseases, diabetic nephropathy, diabetic neuropathy, foot ulcers and diabetic
eye diseases that are all preventable through secondary preventive measures.
Once an individual has been diagnosed with T2DM, secondary
preventive approaches are essential in preventing the occurrence of chronic
complications. However, lack of awareness of these measures has been cited as
the common reasons for the development of complications. The study aimed to
assess the effect of social cultural and economic factors on the practice of
secondary diabetes prevention among patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus
(T2DM) at Consolata Hospital Nkubu and Meru Level Five Hospital between March
and April 2019. A descriptive correlational
study design was adopted to collect data from 357 purposively sampled participants with T2DM
using questionnaires and Focus Group Discussion Guide. Quantitative data
were analyzed using SPSS version 25 at 95% confidence interval and a
significance level p ≤ 0.05. Most respondents attended Meru Teaching and Referral Hospital.
Majority of the respondents were aged between 40 - 60 years.
Most respondents 31.6% had secondary level
of education and majority 67% was employed. Concerning secondary
prevention, majority did foot examination on every visit 70.6% and BP
monitoring 69.5% while 56.5% did annual eye screening. Level of income, affordability of
services, health insurance cover of the patients, monthly cost of DM management
and traditional beliefs in managing DM all significantly influenced DM
secondary prevention at a p value ≤ 0.05. The
factors need to be addressed to reduce the global burden posed by the disease.