The Profile of patients diagnosed with type 2 diabetes mellitus at Vanga Hospital, Dr Congo

Abstract

Background

In the Vanga Health Zone, diabetic patients have idea that diabetes is due to

witchcraft, which idea can interfere with the prevention and management of their

disease. The purpose of this study was to determine the profile of patients diagnosed

with type 2 diabetes mellitus at Vanga Hospital, Democratic Republic of Congo (DR

Congo).

Methods

A cross-sectional study was designed with use of a questionnaire to a systematic

sample of type 2 diabetic patients attending the diabetic clinic of Vanga hospital for at

least six months and resident at Vanga health zone.

Results

Only 2.1 % of the participants believe in a scientific cause for diabetes; 53.5 % of

them do not think that their disease is due to the fact that they crossed over a path

where some ritual was performed and, 89.2 % of the participants believe that God

deserted the person who suffered from diabetes and expect that prayer will rectify the

disease. The majority of participants (65.6 %) had poor glycaemic control. Correlation

analysis has shown that glycaemia level was not significantly associated with

sociodemographic characteristics or health belief factors.

Conclusion The majority of patients at the Vanga diabetic clinic have a greater need for

management strategies to improve their glycaemic control.

Keywords: type 2 diabetes mellitus, health beliefs, knowledge, sub-Saharan Africa,

rural