Knowledge, Attitude, Prevalence and Practices related to Diabetes mellitus among commercial drivers in Lagos State

SUMMARY

Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a serious chronic, non-communicable disease that has reached epidemic proportions and is projected to become one of the world’s main disablers and killers within the next twenty five years.  Commercial drivers are especially vulnerable due to unhealthy dietary lifestyle and poor health seeking behaviour aided by their job routine.  This study assessed the knowledge, attitude, prevalence and practices related to diabetes mellitus among commercial drivers in Lagos State, Nigeria.

Study design was a descriptive cross sectional study and a total of 204 respondents were enrolled into the study.  Pretested interviewer administered questionnaire was used for collection of data on Sociodemographic characteristics, knowledge, attitude and practice. Prevalence of obesity, hypertension and DM were assessed by taking anthropometric, blood pressure and fasting plasma glucose (FPG) measurements.  DM was diagnosed from capillary blood at FPG≥126mg/dl.  Knowledge, attitude and practice responses were scored and graded as good (≥ 50%), or poor (< 50%), mean scores (%) were calculated and associations between variables were tested.  Data were collected in January and February of 2015.

Response rate was 100% and mean age of respondents was 44.03±12.70 years. A relatively large (69.9%) of respondents had good knowledge of DM. There was positive association between respondents’ level of education and their knowledge of DM (p= 0.1866, X²= 4.8052) and between respondents’ knowledge of DM and prevalence of DM (*p= 0.8666). A remarkably excellent attitude towards DM was observed among the drivers irrespective of their test status however there was no statistically significant association between respondents’ Sociodemographic characteristics and their attitude towards DM.  The overall prevalence of DM among the respondents was found to be 29.4%.  Age and family history were found to be statistically significantly associated with the prevalence of DM. The highest prevalence was recorded within the 60-79 years age group (mean age= 47.75±13.85, p= 0.7578).  Fifty percent of the respondents admitted taking shots of alcohol or alcoholic concoctions very early in the morning. No statistically significant association was observed between respondents’ age, marital status or level of education and practices related to DM.  However, relatively better practice was recorded among respondents belonging to the 60-79years age group, respondents with ≥ secondary education and those who had earlier been diagnosed of diabetes mellitus.

Knowledge of DM among the commercial drivers was good, as is their attitude, however unhealthy dietary practices viz a viz skipping of meals and alcohol intake and poor health seeking behaviour continually increase their risk of developing DM.  DM screening before issuance and /or renewal of driver’s license is recommended, to assist in the timely diagnosis and treatment of patients. This, coupled with emphatic government policies capable of improving dietary patterns would go a long way in checking the escalating trend of DM prevalence especially among occupational groups.