PREVALENCE, AWARENESS AND ASSOCIATED RISK FACTORS OF TYPE-2 DIABETES IN RURAL AREAS OF ANANDPUR SAHIB IN PUNJAB
KAMLESH KUMARI *
Department of Zoology, Desh Bhagat University, Mandi Gobindgarh, Punjab, India.
HARVINDER KAUR SIDHU
Department of Life Science, Desh Bhagat University, Mandi Gobindgarh, Punjab, India.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Background: Prevalence of type-2 diabetes mellitus has found to be dramatically increased in India especially Northern Region. In rural areas most of times diabetic patients goes unnoticed and present for first time with many drastic complication, due to less awareness of rural population towards diabetes mellitus. Hence this prevalence of diabetes and its associated risk factors and assessment of awareness regarding diabetes mellitus was undertaken.
Objectives: (1) To determine the prevalence of type-2 diabetes mellitus in rural population of Anandpur Sahib in Punjab. (2) To assess the level of awareness & knowledge regarding diabetes mellitus in a diabetic Population. (3) To determine the associated risk factors for selected type-2 diabetes.
Participants & Methods: A community based cross sectional study conducted on 2000 rural population in Anandpur Sahib by house to house survey involving adults aged>20 years. A structured questionnaire was used to obtain the demographic profiles and knowledge about pre- diabetes among the surveyed population. Capillary blood screening tests had been done to detect the blood sugar level with the help of glucometer.
Results: Out of 2000 subjects 42% were males and 58% were females with mean age 54.1±12 years. The overall prevalence of type-2 diabetes was 16.6%. Male showed higher prevalence rate 20.4% as compared to females. About 20.2% of diabetic population had knowledge that diabetes occur due to lack of insulin. Overweight, hypertension and physical inactivity were the associated risk factors of type-2 diabetes mellitus in rural population.
Conclusion: Prevalence of type-2 diabetes mellitus and its associated risk factors were high in rural population of Anandpur Sahib indicating the impending diabetic epidemic in rural areas. Awareness regarding diabetes were also very poor. Therefore effective health awareness programmes are needed in this population to reduce the disease burden.
Keywords: Diabetes mellitus, awareness, prevalence, management & control, risk factors.