CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1 Background

Diabetes mellitus is a chronic, progressive and non-communicable disease characterized by elevated level of blood sugar. It occurs when the pancreas does not produce enough insulin hormones, which regulate blood sugar or when the body cannot effectively use the insulin it produces leading to hyperglycemia (WHO, 2016).Nurses in providing care encounter patients with diabetes in a variety of setting, therefore it is necessary to have a fundamental knowledge of diabetes, associated risk factors and management involve.

Diabetes has become a global public health problem, reaching epidemic proportion worldwide with a serious complication for health and wellbeing. According to World Health Organization (WHO, 2013), 190 million people suffer from diabetes worldwide and it is estimated that by the year 2025, there will be about 330 million patients in the world with diabetes. This is driven by a combination of demographic changes and associated risk factor levels such as sedentary life style, tobacco smoking, alcohol consumption and physical inactivity (Kaufman, et al., 2011). According to World Health Organization (2019), an estimated 19.4 million adult’s aged 40-79years were living with diabetes in sub Saharan Africa representing a regional prevalence of 3.9%. Africa is a continent with highest proportion of undiagnosed diabetes with 60% of adults currently living with diabetes unaware of their condition (John and Mangwiro, 2020).

Diabetes is a public health problem worldwide, associated with an increase morbidity and mortality. According to International Diabetes Federation (IDF 2017), about 425 million people worldwide suffer from diabetes. This number is expected to increase to 629 million by 2045. According to WHO (2019 Diabetes is a growing health problem with Cameroon population having an estimated 6% affected (CAMBOD, 2004). The prevalence of diabetes in adults in urban areas is currently estimated at 6%-8% with as much as 80% of people living with diabetes who are currently undiagnosed in the population (Mathew, 2014). Research has shown that age, obesity and hypertension were significantly associated with hyperglycemia. Cameroon Burden of Diabetes (2004) builds a multidisciplinary program that will contribute to the surveillance, prevention and control of diabetes and also serve as a model for other non-communicable diseases program in Cameroon. Despite the effort by Cameroon government, the prevalence and risk factor of diabetes is still increasing especially amongst urban population. Diabetes lead to excess glucose in blood, over time, this may result to sign and symptom such as increase thirst, excessive hunger and frequent urination at night.

Up till date, there is no cure for diabetes mellitus. Diabetic patients survive through management which involves nutritional management, exercise and grog therapy.  Early management may prevent complication such as diabetes retinopathy, neuropathy, nephropathy, limb amputation, stroke and heart attack.

This research work focuses on assessing the prevalence and associated risk factors of diabetes amongst aged group above 40years in Molyko community. The research findings will help answer my research objectives which include, “what are the prevalence and associated risk factors of diabetes amongst aged group above 40years in Molyko community” and will help move people from a negative side of health continuum to a positive side. This work will be made up of 5 chapters namely; Research problem, Literature review, Research design, Data interpretation and conclusion.

1.2 Statement of the Problem.

Diabetes is a public health problem worldwide, associated with an increase morbidity and mortality. According to International Diabetes Federation (2017), about 425 million people worldwide suffer from diabetes. This number is expected to increase to 629 million by 2045. According to WHO (2019), an estimated 19.4 million adults aged 40-79years were living with diabetes in Sub-Saharan Africa representing a regional prevalence of 3.9%. Africa is a continent with highest proportion of undiagnosed diabetes with 60% of adults currently living with diabetes unaware of their condition (John and Mangwiro, 2020). In Cameroon, the prevalence of diabetes in adults in urban areas is currently estimated as 6%-8% with as much as 80% of people living with diabetes who are currently undiagnosed in the population (Mathew, 2018). Only about quarter of people with no diabetes actually had adequate control of their blood sugar level. The burden and risk factor of diabetes in Cameroon is rapidly rising.

According to Cameroon Burden of Diabetes (2004), the prevalence of diabetes increase with age, hypertension, overweight and obesity. One of the targets of sustainable development goal was to reduce premature death from non-communicable diseases including diabetes by 30% in 2030 (WHO, 2016)

1.3 Rationale

Very little or no study has been done on the prevalence and associated risk factors of diabetes amongst aged group above 40years in Molyko community. Also   I discovered that many people in Molyko community are not aware of their diabetic status and their life style such as excessive alcohol consumption, tobacco smoking, physical inactivity and sedentary life style pre-dispose them to diabetes. It is therefore the reason why I embarked on this study in order to get the clear picture of the prevalence and associated risk factors amongst adult in Molyko community

1.4 Research Questions

1. What is the prevalence of type 2 diabetes amongst adults aged 40years and above in Molyko community?
2. What are the associated risk factors of type 2 diabetes amongst adults aged 40yaers and above in Molyko community?

1.5 Research Objectives.

General Objective

To assess the prevalence and associated risk factors of type 2diabetesamongstadults aged   40years and above in Molyko community?

Specific Objectives

1. To assess the prevalence of type 2 diabetes amongst adults aged 40years and above in Molyko community
2. To identify the associated risk factors of type 2 diabetes amongst adults aged 40years and above in Molyko community