A Study Of Knowledge Attitude And Practices Of Saudi Women Towards Diabetes Mellitus. A (KAP) Study In Al-Qassim Region

摘要

Objectives: Diabetes Mellitus is a major health problem with individual, social and economical consequences. Knowledge, attitude and practice (KAP) surveys are effective in providing baseline for evaluating intervention programmes. This study was conducted with the aim to know the level of awareness regarding type 2 diabetes mellitus to aid in future development of programmes and techniques for effective health educationStudy Design: Cross sectional descriptiveMethodology: This cross sectional study describes the Knowledge, Attitude and Practices (KAP) among female diabetic patients attending the Mother andChild Hospital and Qassim University Clinic in Buraydah from Jan 2009 toJune 2009. KAP questionnaire was used for this purpose after getting permissionfrom P and T journal Medi Media USA. Data was analyzed using descriptive analysis Microsoft office 2007 window vista and SPSS version 16 .Results: Altogether, 56.14 % of respondents scored 100% in the questions related with knowledge. However 17.58% scored 100% in the attitude questions and15.78%scored 100% in practice questions. The overall KAP score had a mean of 16and standard deviation (SD) of 6.066. The respondents correctly answering (all?) the knowledge questions have a mean Score of 12.42 and SD 3.034. The respondents answering correctly attitude and Practice questions had a mean Score of 1.46±1.739 and 2.79±2.289 respectively. Conclusion: Results revealed good knowledge but poor attitude andPractices toward diabetes. We concluded that there is a need for structured programmes to improve attitude and practices of diabetic patients to promote better compliance Introduction Diabetes mellitus is believed to be the commonest and most devastating chronic disease in human history. It has afflicted mankind for thousands of years and continues to do so at an exponential rate 1. It is now a global epidemic with devastating humanitarian, social and economical consequences. In International Journal of Health Sciences,,Dr Tabish in his editorial labeled it as an epidemic of 21st century 2.During the past three decades, the population of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has undergone tremendous changes in lifestyle, primarily leading to decreased physical activity and unhealthy eating habits. These changes have had a considerable negative impact on the health of the society. Indeed, this lifestyle transformation is thought to be responsible for the epidemic of non communicable diseases and their complications in the country3, 4, 5 In addition, type 2 diabetes mellitus and obesity are becoming increasingly more prevalent among Saudi females3,6 . The serious spread of disease can cripple the nation’s fiscal and human resources; therefore, it’s the time to act now and do as much as possible to cover almost all aspects of the disease. The overwhelming burden of the disease threatens to stunt economic growth and undermine the benefits of improved standards of living and education. Proper education and awareness programmes developed according to the need of the society can improve the knowledge of patients and change their attitude. A study from Pakistan highlighted the fact that proper education and awareness programme can improve the knowledge of patients and change their attitude as a large gap was found between knowledge and attitude7 . A study from Malaysia shows good knowledge attitude and practice (KAP) of diabetic patients in this region8 . These differences may be due to differences of literacy rate and information about diabetes9 .Obtaining information about the level of awareness is the first step in formulating a preventive programme for the disease. There is need to investigate KAP among diabetic patients to aid in future development of programmes and techniques for effective health education. KAP surveys are effective in providing baseline for evaluating intervention programmes10 .Patients if given proper education and guidance towards diabetes care would be able to make a signi