Knowledge, Attitude, and Practices Regarding Type-2 Diabetes Mellitus in Pakistan: A Cross-Sectional Study Using HbA1c Screening

Knowledge, Attitude, and Practices Regarding Type-2 Diabetes Mellitus in Pakistan

Abstract

One of the most common chronic diseases with substantial public health and economic implications is Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus, which affects more than 400 million people globally and makes up more than 90% of all instances of diabetes. The prevalence of type 2 diabetes has increased recently in Pakistan and around the world. The present study aimed to raise awareness of diabetes among diabetic patients, healthy individuals, and pre-diabetic individuals in order to enhance self-care habits among these groups. A self-administrated online questionnaire-based survey was carried out from September 2023 to April 2024. It consisted of two sections: first was related to demographic characteristics, while the second was related to knowledge, attitude, and practices i.e., KAP survey of Pakistani community. Using glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) as the screening test, we determined the prevalence of type 2 diabetes mellitus. Disease prevalence, both overall and stratified, and its correlation with risk variables were evaluated. Among 310 responses received, results showed that 39.2% of males and 13.4% of females were affected. Obesity was found to be a significant factor in the disease incidence. Type 2 diabetes mellitus was significantly correlated with advanced age, central obesity and higher body mass index, having a positive family history, and hypertension. A negative correlation with the categorical variable of education. Therefore, in the developing countries there is a strong need to raise awareness about causative agents of type 2 diabetes mellitus among people to minimize the disease incidence.