Influence of sources of diabetes related information on awareness among Pokhara residents of Nepal

Abstract

Background

Diabetes is a major public health problem in the world. It is now found that it imposes a heavy disease burden in both developed and developing countries. The objective of this study was to find out the relationship between the source of information regarding diabetes mellitus and its awareness among the residents of Pokhara valley, Nepal.

Methods

It was a cross-sectional study conducted in Pokhara, Nepal from January to March 2017. The survey was conducted using a predesigned questionnaire. The tools used were demographic proforma and knowledge questionnaire on Diabetes mellitus.

Results

40.8% of the participants were of age 20-44yrs and 52.5% of them were male. Majority of them were Hindu (81.7%) and most of the participants belonged to Brahmin ethnicity (53.3%). 50.8% had nuclear family and 87.5.6% of the participants were literate. Majority of the participants were employed (70.8%). Most of them had a monthly family income of NRs.20, 001 and above (63.3%).Majority of them were non diabetic (83.3%).There was a statistically significant relationship between awareness and source of information regarding diabetes mellitus (p<0.05).

Conclusion

Awareness was found more in participants where healthcare workers were the source of information. Therefore, Nepal government and the related organizations have to gear up community based interventional programmes to increase awareness regarding Diabetes.