Knowledge and attitude towards diabetes and factors that influence knowledge of diabetes risk factors: a case of adults of Sinza “A” Dar-es-Salaam, Tanzania

Abstract

Background: Diabetes mellitus (DM) is currently found in almost every population and epidemiological evidence suggest that without effective prevention and control programs the prevalence will continue to rise globally. Ninety percent of individuals with diabetes in the world have type 2 diabetes, luckily it is preventable in nine out of ten individuals. Understanding the level of knowledge, attitude and awareness towards diabetes in a population is the first step towards formulating a strategic preventive program for diabetes. Individual‟s knowledge on diabetes risk factors is paramount in the fight against progressive rapid rise of diabetes. Objective: To determine level of knowledge and attitude towards diabetes and factors that influence knowledge of diabetes risk factors among study participants in Sinza A Dar-es-salaam Tanzania. Methods: The study was conducted in June 2014. A cross sectional study design was used. A multistage random sampling process was employed to the ultimate sample unit (households) and one eligible member was interviewed from each household. A structured questionnaire with close-ended questions was used to gather information and an informed consent was sought prior to the interview. The statistical package for social science was used to analyze data. Results: A total of 255 study participants were interviewed of whom 152(59.9%) were males. Respondents‟ ages ranged from 18 – 75 (mean = 37.3 ± 13.3years). Findings revealed an overall poor level of knowledge of diabetes among the study participants 164 (64.7%). Respondents had predominantly negative attitude towards diabetes 137(53.7). In multivariate analysis, respondents with diabetic family members had about 2 times the likelihood of having knowledge of diabetes risk factors compared to those without a diabetic family member [(AOR = 2.09, 95% CI =1.137 – 3.853); P = 0.018]. In addition, respondents who had an overall general knowledge of diabetes were about 13 times more likely to have a good knowledge of diabetes risk factors compared to those who had poor knowledge of diabetes [(AOR = 13.37, 95% CI = 5.355 – 33.405); P < 0.001]. Conclusion and recommendation: This study has shown that the community of Sinza „A‟ has a significant low level of knowledge of diabetes. It was also observed that unemployment, sex (male) and a very young age was associated with a negative attitude towards diabetes. Good knowledge of risk factors was greatly associated with one having a good general knowledge of diabetes. The majority of individuals who were aware and knowledgeable of the disease were mostly so because of the presence of a family member with the disease among the respondents. There is a need for further in-depth studies to investigate the social and cultural perceptions of health in Tanzania in regards to diabetes. Therefore shedding light on why attitude is predominantly negative. It is recommended that further studies be done to evaluate diabetes knowledge in other districts among the rural and urban population so that comparative inferences can be drawn and intervention strategies formulated. Diabetes prevention greatly depends on recognition of its risk factors, so its prevention interventions needs to target health education directed to the community both affected and the general population. Key words: Diabetes, prevention, identifying most at risk, intervention, lifestyle