A STUDY ON AWARENESS OF DIABETES MELLITUS AMONG ANGANWADI WORKERS IN URBAN SLUMS, MUMBAI.

Abstract

Background: The present trend in Diabetes Mellitus is escalating, with increasing Diabetes Mellitus prevalence and                    earlier onset of type 2 Diabetes Mellitus in the adult population. Awareness is a significant factor for control, adequate treatment and prevention of complications due to Diabetes Mellitus. There is need to increase the awareness among grassroot level health care workers like Anganwadi workers. Hence the present study is conducted to study the awareness of Diabetes Mellitus among Anganwadi workers

Objectives: To study the Awareness of Diabetes Mellitus among Anganwadi workers. To study the Health profile of Anganwadi workers, with special emphasis on Diabetes Mellitus.

Methodology: A Community based cross-sectional study was conducted among 67Anganwadi workers working in Urban Slums, Mumbai using Simple random sampling. All 67Anganwadi workers were personally contacted, interviewed and examined using a pre-tested, semi structured questionnaire to find out general and specific knowledge of diabetes like prevalence, symptoms, risk factors and prevention etc. and a health checkup with general examination, anthropometry, blood pressure and blood sugar level assessment was conducted for them. Anganwadi workers were called in groups of 8-10. Health education about diabetes was given through role play.

Results: Amongst all participants 17% of Anganwadi workers could not explain what is meant by Diabetes Mellitus. According to them prevalence of Diabetes is more in urban (85%) area. Major symptoms of Diabetes were polyuria (56.7%) and delayed healing of wound (55.2%) as answered by them. Major risk factors identified    by them were consuming more sweets (49.3%) and stress (44.18%). According to them high risk group are: age>35yr (56.7%), family history of diabetes (47.8%) & obesity (47.8%). According to them the methods for prevention of Diabetes Mellitus were avoiding sweets (80%) while 62% thought physical exercise is the remedy. Only 13.4% had correct knowledge for Diabetes screening; while 37.3% were aware that urine sugar test can be used for screening of Diabetes and none of them knew about Hb1AC. Around half of the worker had knowledge about organs affected by diabetes like eye, foot and kidney.

Conclusion: Only half of the Anganwadi workers had some knowledge regarding the disease. It is imperative to make them aware and empower them with precise knowledge on diabetes, so as to convey appropriate awareness at grass root level in the     community.