KNOWLEDGE AND PREVENTIVE PRACTICES OF TYPE 2 DIABETES MELLITUS AMONG IN-SCHOOL ADOLESCENTS IN RURAL AREAS OF EJIGBO LOCAL GOVERNMENT, OSUN STATE

Abstract

Type 2 diabetes as one of the groups of diabetes occurs as from the body’s inability to respond properly to the action of insulin produced by the pancreas. Type 2 diabetes among adolescent is becoming a major and growing public health concern in Nigeria due to lack of knowledge and increasing rate of adolescents getting invovled in practices that can expose them to risk of the disease. This has not been well investigated among adolescents in the rural community. Therefore, this study examined the knowledge and preventive practices of type 2 diabetes mellitus among in-school adolescents in rural areas of Ejigbo Local Government, Osun State. This study was a descriptive cross-sectional study using a four-stage sampling techniques in selecting 302 in-school adolescents from five rural communities. A validated semi-structured interviewer-administered questionnaire that contained a 66-points knowledge scale was used for data collection. Knowledge scores of ≤ 22 were rated as poor, >22 - 44 were categorized as fair and >44 as good. A 8-point preventive practice scale, ≤5 point as poor and >5 point as good. Height and weight measurements were taken using a stadiometer and weighing scale respectively. The body mass index (BMI) of the respondents was calculated by dividing the weight measurements by the height measurements. The data collected were analysed using descriptive statistics and inferential statitics at p<0.05 level of significance. Respondents’ age was 16.1±1.7 years. Majority (97.0%) of the respondents have heard about diabetes, where 76.8% indicated Radio as the major source of information for diabetes. 65.5% of the respondents had fair knowledge of type 2 diabetes. Majority of the respondents (73.4%) correctly stated frequent urination, 38.6% indicated frequent drinking of water and 30.4% reported that being overweight can be linked to type 2 diabetes. More than half (57.3%) of the respondents had good preventive practices of type 2 diabetes. Only (13.6%) of respondents reported to have ever tested for blood sugar, less than 10.0% of the respondents (7.9%) had a family history of diabetes, 4.0% of the respondents reported smoking tobacco products daily and 8.3% of the respondents take alcoholic drinks. More than half (72.5%) of the respondents had normal weight, 22.5% were underweight and a few respondents (5.0%) were overweight. There was a statistically significant association between knowledge of respondents and preventive practices of type 2 diabetes. This study showed that respondents had fair knowledge and good preventive practices of type 2 diabetes. In addition, few of them indulged in unhealthy dietary and other lifestyles that could put them at risk of type 2 diabetes. Awareness through the use of Behavioural Change Communication materials and inclusion of non communicable disease education especially diabetes education in the curriculum of secondary school students are hereby recommended.