Assessment of Knowledge and Practice of Caregivers of Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus in Sulaimani Governorate

Abstract

Background and Objectives:  Families of those children were the primary caregivers who are suffering from the burden of care and who encountered many other problems that arise may from illiteracy or limited knowledge. aim of study is to assess caregiver’s knowledge and practice regarding the disease and to find out the association between knowledge and practices.

Subject & Methods: Descriptive study was conducted on 60 caregivers of the children with the disease from Sulaimani Governorate who were attending the center of diabetes for treatment and routine check up. Data were obtained through interviewing the caregivers via structured questionnaire developed the study.

Results : Caregivers were emphasizing on nutritional intake and necessity of insulin administration, and unable to recognize the importance of breast feeding. Caregivers read and write, majority were housewife, and almost urban resident. Patients were aged 6-10 yrs, gender were prevailed female. Negative family history was shown among patients, and two third were breast fed at the first six months of life.

Conclusions: For total knowledge of caregivers, the study showed good topics of knowledge, and high satisfactory practicing. Age of the sample shows no significant associations with knowledge regarding etiology and sign and symptoms, while significant association found between treatment, control measure and practices. Significant association found between educational level of caregivers and their knowledge regarding treatment, etiology, control measure and their practices. No significant association found between marital status of caregivers and practice. Families and patients need ongoing education and support, providing nutritional therapy, telephone contacts in some situations that needs, providing scientific booklet, publications about type I diabetes. Wear identification (ID) that identifies him or her as having diabetes.