Diabetes Knowledge among Caregivers of Pediatric Diabetic Patients in Sudan, Khartoum State

Abstract

Noor Mahdi Abdalla Babiker, Waad Elzamali Elmonawar Elbashir, Almarwa Abdalaziz Osman Ahmed, Mnahil Badreldin Gorashi Mustafa and Yousif Omer Elgaili Yousif

Background: The global prevalence of type I diabetes has been rising, with the current estimated incidence in Sudan of 10.1 per 100,000. Type I diabetes often develops in children, and their caregivers’ knowledge about it is crucial in managing it and preventing complications. This study was conducted to assess Sudanese diabetic patients’ caregivers regarding their children's condition.

Materials and Methods: This was a cross-sectional hospital-based study conducted among Sudanese caregivers of pediatrics with type 1 diabetes mellitus present to the outpatient of Jaafar Bin Auf Hospital, Ahmed Qasim Hospital, and Jabber Abu- Ela center from December 2021 to march 2022. Data was collected using a structured and tested questionnaire, then entered and analyzed using SPSS V 28.

Results and Conclusion: Two hundred participants responded (response rate 83%), with females, predominating (n=144), Overall, the mean knowledge score of the participants was 57± 20 out of 100. More than half 52% (n=104) had fair knowledge about diabetes, nearly one-third 33.5% (n=67) had poor knowledge, and only 14.5% (n=29) had good knowledge about diabetes. Females had significantly higher knowledge scores than males (p-value 0.03), a significant difference between educational levels was found p-value 0.01), and a significant difference was found between those who received knowledge about diabetes and those who hadn’t; with those who attended courses had the highest mean score (84± 26) followed by those who obtained knowledge from doctors (61± 19) (p-value 0.001). In conclusion the study found that Sudanese caregivers of diabetic children had a fair knowledge of Type 1 diabetes. Some areas of knowledge defect include diabetes symptoms, follow-up, and complications. Females, education, and receiving knowledge from courses and doctors were associated with good knowledge. Conduction of diabetes awareness programs with more focused approaches is recommended.

PDF