FACTORS ASSOCIATED WITH PREDIABETES MELLITUS AND GLYCEMIC LEVEL OF SECONDARY SCHOOL ADOLESCENTS IN IBADAN SOUTH WEST LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA, NIGERIA

Abstract

Diabetes mellitus and impaired glycemic levels is an emerging public health problem amongst children and adolescents in developed and developing countries. In Nigeria there, is sparse documentation on the prevalence of diabetes and its risk factors amongst adolescents. This study therefore will provide the necessary evidence required for prevention of the disease and its associated morbidity and disability. The aim of the study was to access the factors associated with diabetes mellitus and glycemic level of secondary school adolescents in Ibadan South West Local Government Area (ISWLG), Nigeria. Method: A cross-sectional survey was carried out using a multi stage cluster sampling technique to select 500 students from public and private secondary schools in ISWLG. A semi-structured, interviewer administered, pre-tested questionnaire was used to elicit information on sociodemographic characteristics, physical activity, dietary behavior and sedentary behavior. The height, weights, blood pressure and fasting blood glucose was taken. Pre-diabetes was defined as FBS > 100mg/dl, insufficient physical activity defined as <5 days of at least 60mins of moderate physical activity, sedentary behavior defined as >2hours of television viewing and video games daily, overweight and hypertension defined as BMI for age > 2 S.D and systolic blood pressure ≥95th percentile. Data analysis was done using univariate (frequencies and proportions), chisquare for test of association, independent t-test and ANOVA to compare means, logistic and linear regression at 5% level of significance. Results: The mean age of the respondents was 14.6±1.54 years. Fifty-three percent were females, 69.2% attended private school and 81.3% were Yorubas. Prevalence obtained from this study were 3.8%, 6.4%, 32.9%, 8.4%, 30.4% and 16.6% for pre-diabetes, overweight, prehypertension, hypertension, physical inactivity and sedentary behavior respectively. The mean glycemic level of the respondents was 85.4±8.3. There was a statistically significant difference (p= 0.001) in the mean glycemic level of pupils who attend public schools (83.5±8.2) and those who attend private schools (86.2±8.2) There was a difference in the mean glycemic levels of those who were overweight (86.0±6.2), underweight (85.3±7.4), and normal weight (85.6±8.6). (f = 0.107, p = 0.89). There was no statistically significant association between physical activity (x2 = 0.002, p = 0.77), blood pressure (x2 = 1.61, p = 0.45), type of school (x2 = 2.37, p = 0.12). Adolescents who had hypertension had a 41 % higher risk of developing pre diabetes (OR = 2.42, 95% C.l = 0.604-9.697, p = 0.21), compared to those who had normal blood pressure. Conclusion: Risk factors of diabetes are prevalent amongst the secondary school adolescents in ISWLG population. It was observed that overweight/obesity and elevated blood pressure was a determinant of pre diabetes. Screening for this condition and its risk factors is emphasized to prevent the pernicious effect of diabetes.