Abstract
Background: Diabetes mellitus is a metabolic disorder of multiple etiological factors characterized by chronic hyperglycemia with disturbance of carbohydrate metabolism. It can play the vital role in the cause of morbidity and mortality through continued clinical consequence and mortality. Therefore good knowledge of diabetes mellitus prevention and management is necessary in promoting care and enhancing good therapeutic outcomes.
Objective:To assess the knowledge, attitude, practice and associated factors among general population regarding diabetes mellitus in Chiro town, Estern Ethiopia, august 01 to October 30, 2023.
Methods: Cross-sectional study design was conducted on 764 subjects from Augeust 01 to December 30, 2023. A pre-tested structured questionnaire was used to collect the socio-demographic information of the study participants. Data was enterd into Statstical Package for social science , checked for completeness and analyzed. The characteristics of the study population were summarized using descriptive statistics, frequency and percentage.
Result: The study revealed that 98% of respondents had heard of diabetes, with 80% correctly identifying it as a condition of high blood sugar and 25% recognizing inadequate insulin action as a characteristic. Additionally, 65.57% demonstrated good knowledge of diabetes, 60% had a positive attitude towards diabetes management, and 35.4% reported good practices. Despite these insights, misconceptions persisted, such as 25% believing diabetes is caused by a curse. Regular exercise and non-smoking were common positive practices, but only 10.4% regularly checked their blood sugar levels.
Conclusion and recommendation: This study highlights high diabetes awareness (98%) but incomplete understanding, with only 25% recognizing inadequate insulin action. Mixed perceptions about diabetes management and significant gaps in prevention practices underscore the need for targeted educational programs, emphasizing the treatability of diabetes, regular monitoring, and healthier lifestyle choices. Enhanced awareness of comprehensive diabetes care, including proper medication use and physical activity, is crucial.