Knowledge and Self-Care Management Practices of People Living with Diabetes Mellitus in Selected Hospitals, Benin-City, Edo State, Nigeria

Effective glycemic control and healthy living within the limit of diabetes illness is the state of health envisaged by people living with diabetes. This can be achieved through deliberate involvement in appropriate self-care management practices that is influenced by the level of knowledge of the disease entity. Therefore, this study assessed knowledge and self-care management practices of people living with diabetes mellitus in selected hospitals in Benin-city, Edo state. The study adopted a descriptive survey design that involved a population of (968) people living with diabetes attending the outpatient clinic of the selected hospitals. A total sample of 311 was determined using the Slovin’s formula. Multi stage sampling procedure involving criteria-based (purposive) and simple random sampling was utilized to select the hospitals, while a convenience sampling was used to select the respondents. A self-constructed and validated questionnaire was used for data collection from the respondents. Cronbach’s Alpha Coefficient for each of the variables ranged from 0.78 to 0.83. A response rate of 96.5% for the participant was achieved. Data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics. Results showed that 50.0% of respondents have moderate level of knowledge about diabetes. Overall, 70.0% of respondents had adequate knowledge. Seventy-five (75.0%) of respondents demonstrated good self-care management practices. The findings also showed significant relationship (r =.159, p= 0.006 < α-value 0.05) between knowledge and self-care management practices. The study concluded that respondents have high knowledge which is likely to inform them about specific diabetes self-care management actions. The study recommended that people living with diabetes mellitus should be encouraged and motivated by their care givers, family members, and support group to sustain their self-care management practices of the disease condition.

Key words: Knowledge, People Living with Diabetes, Self-care management Practices,