BARRIERS TO DIABETES SELF CARE AMONG TYPE TWO DIABETES PATIENTS ATTENDING KIRWARA SUB COUNTY HOSPITAL, MURANGA COUNTY, KENYA
Salome Nyambura Kinyanjui
Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus, Diabetes Self-Care, Cultural Barriers, Patient-Related Factors, Kenya
Background: Diabetes mellitus is a chronic condition that arises from either insufficient insulin production by the pancreas or inefficient insulin utilization by the body. Effective self-care is critically important because it helps patients regulate blood sugar levels, prevent complications such as cardiovascular diseases, kidney failure, and neuropathy and improve overall quality of life. In Kenya, the prevalence of diabetes is steadily rising, making self-care practices such as adherence to diet plans, physical activity, and regular monitoring essential for reducing morbidity and mortality. Despite this, no study has been conducted to understand the barriers to diabetes mellitus self-care practices among type 2 diabetes patients in Muranga County, Kenya, highlighting a significant gap in knowledge that must be addressed to strengthen interventions and improve patient outcomes.
Objectives: To determine the level of practice of self-care activities, patient related and the cultural factors which act as barriers to optimal self-care among patients with type two diabetes mellitus attending Kirwara sub-County Hospital.
Methods: A cross-sectional study conducted using systematic sampling technique to sample 200 respondents from the 420 registered diabetes patients at Kirwara sub-County Hospital. A semi-structured questionnaire collected data from type 2 diabetes patients attending the clinic. Categorical descriptive data was analyzed using percentages and frequencies while continuous data used means and standard deviation. The relationships between the independent and dependent variables were ascertained using Chi-square test.
Results: The study revealed that 45% of the respondents had a family history (42.5% having their mothers and 23.5% had their fathers) of diabetes. Having and using a meal plan and checking haemoglobin level ensures good diabetic self-care. Tobacco use (p=0.000) decreases diabetic self-care (p=0.000). Religious practices such as fasting have negative effects on diabetic self-care. Cultural practices such as use of herbal medicines significant effects diabetic self-care and may increase the risk of diabetic complications.
Conclusion: Tobacco use, religious practices like fasting and cultural practices such as using herbal medicine all decrease the practice of diabetic foot self-care.
Recommendations: Health care workers should support patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus by providing comprehensive health education, develop individualized diabetic meal plans, promote the reduction of tobacco use, and encourage positive behavior changes related to culture and nutrition. By combining education, lifestyle guidance, and cultural sensitivity, health care providers can empower patients to make sustainable choices that enhance their long-term health outcomes.
"BARRIERS TO DIABETES SELF CARE AMONG TYPE TWO DIABETES PATIENTS ATTENDING KIRWARA SUB COUNTY HOSPITAL, MURANGA COUNTY, KENYA", IJSDR - International Journal of Scientific Development and Research (www.IJSDR.org), ISSN:2455-2631, Vol.11, Issue 9, page no.b846-b896, September-2026, Available :https://ijsdr.org/papers/IJSDRTH01026.pdf
Volume 11
Issue 9,
September-2026
Pages : b846-b896
Paper Reg. ID: IJSDR_311777
Published Paper Id: IJSDRTH01026
Downloads: 0002
Research Area: Health Science All
Country: Juja Sub-County, Kenya, Kenya
ISSN: 2455-2631 | IMPACT FACTOR: 9.15 Calculated By Google Scholar | ESTD YEAR: 2016
An International Scholarly Open Access Journal, Peer-Reviewed, Refereed Journal Impact Factor 9.15 Calculate by Google Scholar and Semantic Scholar | AI-Powered Research Tool, Multidisciplinary, Monthly, Multilanguage Journal Indexing in All Major Database & Metadata, Citation Generator
Publisher: IJSDR(IJ Publication) Janvi Wave
