Association of Socioeconomic Characteristics, Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices towards Dietary Management with Anthropometric Indices of Type 2 Diabetics in Federal Medical Centre, Umuahia Nigeria
Abstract
Background: Increasing prevalence of poorly controlled diabetes with huge health complications necessitated the evaluation of the association of socioeconomic characteristics, knowledge, attitude, and practices (KAP) towards dietary management with anthropometric indices of type 2 diabetics Federal Medical Center, Nigeria.
Objective: The study examined the associations between socio-economic characteristics, KAP towards dietary management, and anthropometric indices of diabetics.
Methodology: The cross-sectional study assessed 50 diabetics purposively selected from the hospital’s outpatient clinic. Socioeconomic characteristics, KAP towards dietary management were obtained with a validated structured intervieweradministered questionnaire. Anthropometric indices (body mass index BMI and waist circumference WC) were assessed using standard methods. Data were analyzed with IBM Statistical Product for Service Solution (SPSS) version 21.0, and presented with descriptive statistics, Chi-square, and Pearson correlation.
Results: The patients were mainly rural (52%), female (62%), ≥ 40 years (88%), married (96%), and monogamous (84%). Sixty-two percent had below primary education status, 94% were employed, and 56% earned below ₦20,000/month. BMI and WC were high in 50% and 54% respectively; many (68%, 53%, and 67%) had good KAP towards dietary management respectively. Positive correlations exist between occupation and WC (r2=0.537; p=0.000); education attained with BMI (r2=0.293; p=0.039), and WC (r2=0.676; p=0.000), income level and BMI (r2=0.453; p=0.001), nutrition knowledge and WC (r 2 = 0.517; p=0.000); and KAP and BMI (r2=0.355; p=0.012) of the diabetics. Negative relationships exist between knowledge of dietary management and BMI (r2=-0.328; p= 0.020) and WC (r2=-0.485; p=0.000).
Conclusion: Waist circumference had significant positive associations with education attained, occupation, and nutrition knowledge; nutrition knowledge correlated significantly with education attained
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Introduction
Diabetes mellitus is a metabolic disorder of chronic high blood sugar levels associated with disturbances in macronutrient metabolism resulting from absolute or relative insulin deficiency with dysfunction in organ systems [1]. It is globally associated with a high disease burden and has been described as one of the global leading causes of death [2, 3]. The world’s prevalence of diabetes is on a steady increase, 10.5% of adults (20 – 79 years) about 537 million people are currently with diabetes, almost 50% are unaware of the condition and 90% have type 2 diabetes [3]. In Africa, the prevalence is 4.5% an estimate of 24 million adults (20 – 79 years) with diabetes, and it is predicted to increase to 129% (55 million people) by 2045 [2]. Mortality increases every second, and legs/arms are being amputated continually due to diabetes complications [4, 5]. Initially, Nigeria had about 3.2 million cases especially type 2 diabetes [6]. This prevalence is alarming, because the earlier rate in Nigeria was 1-7% of the population [7], but onward the prevalence of diabetes came up to 5.77% [8].
Conclusion
Weight is an important factor in Diabetes management. The appreciable percentage of the patients who had complications and were unable to manage their weight suggests an urgent inclusion of the hospital’s Dietitians in the patients’ care process. Correlations exist between socioeconomic characteristics, KAP of diabetic patients to dietary management, and their anthropometric indices. These associations were positive and significant between education attained, occupation, and nutrition knowledge, with WC respectively. Nutrition knowledge was significantly associated with the respondents’ education attainment. Diabetes management needs a holistic approach for sustainable success.