Knowledge, Attitude and Practice Among Type II Diabetic Patients in Ambo University Referral Hospital, Oromia, Ethiopia

Abstract

Background: Diabetes is a chronic illness significantly affecting health of population throughout the world. In Africa, about 19.8 million adults are affected by diabetes and of these, more than 50% are from Nigeria, South Africa, Ethiopia and Tanzania. Knowledge is the greatest weapon in the fight against diabetes mellitus (DM). Selfmanagement of patients with type two DM largely depends on the knowledge, attitude and practices of such people regarding the condition. Objective: The main objective of this study was to assess knowledge, attitude and practices of type II diabetes (T2DM) patients attending Ambo University referral hospital, Oromia, Ethiopia. Method: An institutional based cross sectional study was conducted among randomly selected 248 T2DM patients aged ≥30 years old from Ambo University Referral Hospital. Data regarding KAP of diabetic patients were collected using interview techniques. In addition, anthropometric data (body mass index and waist hip ratio) of the participants were collected and assessed. The tool for data collection contains socio demographic characteristics and medical factors. Descriptive statistics was used to set the KAP level among the respondents while logistic regression model was applied to test the association of KAP with various independent variables. Results: The mean of age among the respondents was 44(±7.2) years. Of 248 respondents, 105 (42.3%) were from rural. Among the total 248 respondents, about 111(44.8%), 117(47.2%) and 121(48.8%) were differentiated as not knowledgeable, having poor attitude and poor practice towards diabetes mellitus, respectively. Age, place of residence, level of education, average monthly income, history of diabetes and duration of living with DM were identified as factors affecting KAP towards diabetes. Both sex and occupational status were also factors affecting the knowledge level of T2DM patients, but not attitude and practice. Furthermore, knowledge level was affecting booth attitude and practice level of participants in the study area. Conclusion and Recommendation: This study found that there was a gap in knowledge, attitude and practice towards diabetes among T2DM patients in the study area. Therefore, a structured nutrition and health education should be given for T2DM patients through community based behavioral change communication to assist and improve the level of KAP towards DM in the study area.