Abstract:
Background: Non-Communicable Diseases (NCD’s) have been an under estimated
cause of poverty globally especially in developing countries. Among these NCD’s,
diabetes has become one of the leading health problems. This can be seen from its
rising global prevalence from 171million in 2000 to 285million by 2010 and a
projection of 483 million people by 2030. Reports by the World Health Organization
(WHO) put the prevalence of diabetes in Africa at about 7million and an increase to
about 18.2million by 2030. The goal of this study was to determine the knowledge on
diabetes mellitus among adolescent students in Westlands district. Specifically, it
established the knowledge of the adolescent students on risk factors associated with
diabetes and diabetes management practices among the adolescent students.
Methodology: This was cross-sectional study that targeted 7800 students aged
between 12 to 19 years. A sample of 271 students was sampled randomly using
stratified random sampling technique. For each student selected was interviewed
using a structured questionnaire administered by the researcher. The data collected
was then entered using SPSS version 17.0 and analyzed using descriptive and
inferential statistics.
Result: The findings showed that 34% of the students were diabetic. Most of the
diabetic students were aged 16 years and above and weighed 57 kgs and above.
Significant number of students (31.1%) was overweight and most of them came from
well off families (78%). Among the risk factors investigated; stigma, knowledge
level, family history were significantly associated with occurrence of diabetes
mellitus among students while BMI, physical activities and nutritional behaviour were
not. Very few, (29%) of the students sought for medical examinations as a
management practice.
Conclusion and Recommendations: There are adolescent students with diabetes
mellitus. In addition, very few students sought management practices. It was
recommended that the Ministries of Health and Education should start increasing
awareness and screening of the students for diabetes so that early management can be
done.
