Abstract

Background: There is currently a continuous global increase in diabetes prevalence, confirming diabetes as a significant global challenge to the health and well-being of individuals, families, and societies hence the knowledge of self-care among diabetes patients is very imperative. The study evaluated the knowledge and practice of self-care among type 2 diabetes patients attending consultant out-patients department of University of Benin Teaching Hospital, Edo state, Nigeria.


Materials and Methods: The study adopted a descriptive cross-sectional survey design that involved a purposive sampling technique in selecting participants. Two hundred and eighty-six copies of questionnaire were administered and 280 were retrieved. The instrument for data collection was a self-designed structured questionnaire which facilitated eliciting information from the participants. Data obtained were analyzed using Statistical Package of Social Sciences (SPSS) version 26. The analysis used descriptive statistical method to answer the research questions while inferential statistics of Pearson's correlation was used to test the hypotheses.


Results: The results showed moderate knowledge of self-care with (3.81±0.900) and a high practice of self-care (2.93±0.905) among participants. A significant relationship exists between the knowledge of diabetes management and dietary practice (P=0.007), between the duration of illness and the knowledge of diabetes management among type 2 diabetes patients attending consultant out-patients department of University of Benin Teaching Hospital, Edo State, Nigeria.


Conclusion: Diabetes self-care knowledge and practice was moderate among the population studied. The status of education, occupation and duration of illness all predicted the knowledge level. Therefore, it is recommended that continue health education should be given to diabetes patients in other to sustain the moderate knowledge and high practice of self-care among study participants.


Keywords: Diabetes, Knowledge, Self-care practices, Diet, Management