ABSTRACT
Background Diabetes is a medical condition characterized by increase blood sugar level in the body. Diabetes is thus a chromic disorder that occur when the pancreas does not produce enough insulin or when the body cannot effectively use the insulin its produces. When an increased blood sugar level is diagnose during pregnancy for the first time, the condition is known as gestational diabetes Mellitus. Objective. The specific objective of this study was the assessment the knowledge of pregnant women on gestational diabetes mellitus in the Regional Hospital of Buea. Method To achieve the study objectives, a sample size of 100 participants (pregnant women) who visited the Buea Regional Hospital at the time of study for ANC by mean of a structural questionnaire. Results: The results of the study, majority (79.00%) had adequate knowledge on gestational diabetes mellitus. The predispose factors associated with gestational diabetes mellitus among the pregnant women are diagnosis on previous pregnancy, high maternal age, obesity and family history. Some of the measures related to the prevention of gestational diabetes mellitus as identified by the participants were taking moderate exercise such as walking, diet and exercise can treat gestational diabetes mellitus, it is necessary for a gestational diabetes mellitus women to have blood sugar test performed after delivery and it should be 6_12weeks.Recommendations Health care providers .Health talk on gestational diabetes mellitus and healthy diets should be emphasized to all pregnant women for better management and prevention. The availability of essential drugs for gestational diabetes mellitus should be increased for the patients. The government should motivate the patients by providing blood glucose monitoring machines so that the patients can be able to monitor their glucose level at least once weekly or daily in order to improve appropriate management. The ministry of Public Health should put in place more seminar programs where individuals’ can attend and gain more insight about a disease condition in relation to how it comes about, ways of management and how is being prevented. Health care professionals should organized both hospital and community campaigns where they will meet groups such as women social groups and many others to educate them about the existence of a disease condition called gestational diabetes and focusing more about the signs and symptoms and it health related problems or the complications. For the Participant. Should be taught on how to monitor their blood glucose level and how to read the results

CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.1 Background
Gestational diabetes has been trace as far as the seventh century, where it was regarded as
“PISSING EVIL”. It was later described as a condition in which, sugar level increase in blood
and soon disappear in the blood (Hadden, 1998). However, based on the study published by
the Belgian researcher on carbohydrate metabolism, the term “meta_ gestational diabetes” was
first used as far back as in the mid twentieth century (Hoet, 1954).
Debates is a medical condition characterized by increase blood sugar level in the body.
Diabetes is thus a chronic disorder that occurs when the pancreas does not produce enough
insulin or when the body cannot effectively use the insulin it produces Hyperglycemia or rise
sugar, is a common effect of uncontrolled diabetes and over time,leads to serious damage to
many of the body’s systems especially the nervous and circulatory vessels (nerves and blood
vessels), (WHO, 2006) . This ill health condition is very common in our society today
especially among elderly. There are two types of diabetes; diabetes mellitus and diabetes
insipidus.
Diabetes mellitus also called insulin dependent diabetes, describe a medical condition in which
glucose is seen in urine couple with elevated blood sugar, with disturbance of carbohydrate,
fats, and protein metabolism, resulting from defect in insulin secretion, insulin action or both.
The effect of diabetes mellitus includes, long term damage, dysfunctions and failure of various
organs (WHO, 1999). Diabetes insipitus (insulin independent diabetes), is an abnormal health
condition in which excess water is excreted by the kidney, with the reduction of fluid intake
having no significant effect on the concentration of urine (ADA. 2000). Such individual with
diabetes insipidus turn to frequently pass out urine. The most common signs and symptoms of
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diabetes are: polyuria (frequent urination), polyphagia (increase hunger), polydipsia (increase
thirst) and ovinsipitus
This sparked up a series of investigation in the 50s and 60s .leading to the research carried out
by Jogan Pederson in 1957, which increase sugar level during pregnancy ”GESTATIONAL
DIABETES” ,stirring the first international workshop conference, which describe GDM as a
disease. (AHA, 1977). The global prevalence of gestational diabetes mellitus stands at 2 8%,
translating to 176million (Kelly and Hunt, 2000). This increase prevalence of GDM is due to
increase in the ageing population, urbanization, physical activity, life style and high living
standard. The prevalence of GDM is high amongst the naïve America accree, Northern
California, Hispanics Asians and less prevalent in Sweden. In a volunteer population in
Sardinia, the prevalence was 22.3% (Margia et al., 2006).
In sub-Saharan Africa, the prevalence of GDM varies between 1% and 13.9% (Macauley S et
al.; 2014)
A more recent meta-analysis that had pooled data from 33 studies estimated an overall
prevalence of gestational diabetes in sub-Saharan Africa of 9% (95%CI, 7-12%) (Natamba Bk
et al.; 2019).
this disease would affect more people of African origin and the pre-existing overweight would
be more involved in the occurrence of GDM than excess weight acquired during pregnancy
(Mwanri et al .; 2015)
In Cameroon, little studies have been carried out on GDM and the available data shows 5_17%
prevalence (injury and chronic research center Yaoundé Cameroon, 2009) . The strength of
gestational diabetes is rapidly increasing and new diagnostics methods are been used to confirm
diagnosis such as oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT).
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1.2 Statement of the problem
Diabetes is thus a chronic disorder that occurs when the pancreas does not produce enough
insulin or when the body cannot effectively use the insulin it produces Hyperglycemia or rise
sugar, is a common effect of uncontrolled diabetes and over time, leads to serious damage to
many of the body’s systems especially the nervous and circulatory vessels (WHO, 2006) . It is
believed that woman with poor or lack of knowledge about GD will develop complication such
as stillbirth, macrosomia (too large baby), jaundice, hypoglycemia (low blood sugar), dyspnea
(Sobngwi ., et al.2010) This aroused my interest in investigating pregnant women’s knowledge
of GDM at the Buea Regional Hospital.
1.3 Rationale for the study
To know if pregnant woman in Buea Regional hospital are knowledgeable about gestational
diabetes but if women at the Buea regional hospital are not knowledgeable, strategies will be
put in place during ANC at the regional hospital by the ministry of health to educate pregnant
women about gestational diabetes.
1.4 Research question
1. What is the knowledge of pregnant women on gestational diabetes mellitus at the buea
regional hospital?.
2. What are the factors that predispose pregnant women on gestational diabetes mellitus
at the Buea regional hospital?.
3. What are the measure put in place in the Prevention of gestational diabetes mellitus at
the Buea regional hospital?.
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1.6 Research objective
1.6.1 General objective
To assess the knowledge of pregnant women on gestational diabetes mellitus at the regional
hospital.
1.6.2 Specific objective
Specifically, the study seeks to;
1. To assess knowledge of pregnant women on Gestational diabetes mellitus at Buea
regional hospital.
2. To assess the knowledge of pregnant women on the predisposing factors of gestational
diabetes mellitus at Buea regional hospital.
3. To determine the measures put in place by pregnant women in the prevention of
gestational diabetes mellitus at the Buea regional hospital