DIABETES KNOWLEDGE AND ASSOCIATED FACTORS AMONG PATIENTS WITH DIABETES TYPE 2 ATTENDING KITUI COUNTY REFERRAL AND TEACHING HOSPITAL, KENYA

Abstract

Objective: To assess diabetes knowledge and associated factors among
patients with diabetes type 2 attending Kitui County and Referral Hospital,
Kenya.
Methodology: A hospital based cross-sectional analytical study design with
a sample size of 154 type 2 diabetes patients selected through systematic
random sampling. Diabetes knowledge assessed by Diabetes Knowledge
Questionnaire. Binary logistic regression analysis done to identify factors
associated to diabetes knowledge.
Results: 152 respondents participated, females were the majority (63.2%,
n=96). The age group of 50-59 years was predominant (43.4%, n=66), (40.4%, n=61) had attained a primary education. More than two thirds respondents’ modality of treatment was oral drugs (79.6%, n=121). Study participants having diabetes 2-5 years were (34.2%, n= 52) and 6-10 years (29.6%, n=45). Participants demonstrating good knowledge were (44.6%, n=68). However, significant knowledge gap existed in identifying hypoglycemia (47.4%, n=72) and hyperglycemia (20.4%, n=31).
In binary logistic regression, level of education had significant positive
association to diabetes knowledge (Adjusted Odds Ratio (AOR) = 2.82, CI =
1.05, 8.32). The duration of disease (AOR = 0.15, CI = 0.04, 0.54) and mode of treatment (AOR = 0.20, CI = 0.06, 0.60) demonstrated a significant negative association to diabetes knowledge.
Conclusion: The study findings urges for a structured, patient-centered
education interventions targeting high-risk strata groups particularly those with limited formal education, long-standing diabetes and oral antidiabetic medication regimens.