Pattern, knowledge and practices of HbA1C testing among diabetic patients in a Kenyan tertiary referral hospital

Globalization and Health

Peter Waweru Mwangi¹  Cecilia Muvenyi Munguti¹  Jeremiah Munguti Kilonzo³  Duncan Mwangangi Matheka² 

[1] Department of Medical Physiology, School of Medicine, University of Nairobi, P.O. Box 30197-00100, Nairobi, Kenya;Young Professionals Chronic Disease Network, Nairobi, Kenya;Department of Human Anatomy, School of Medicine, University of Nairobi, Nairobi, Kenya

关键词: Sub-Saharan Africa;    Kenya;    NCDs;    Diabetes mellitus (DM);    Knowledge awareness and practices (KAP);    Availability;    Glycemic monitoring;    HbA_1C;   

Others  :  805220
DOI  :  10.1186/1744-8603-9-55

 received in 2013-04-11, accepted in 2013-10-17,  发布年份 2013

【 摘 要 】

Background

Glycated haemoglobin (HbA_1C) measurement is the currently accepted gold standard biochemical indicator of long-term glycemic control in diabetic patients. The level of knowledge as well as the frequency of use of this test among diabetic patients in Kenya is unknown. The current study aimed to document this among patients attending the diabetes clinic at a national referral hospital in Kenya.

Methods

One hundred and ninety eight diabetic patients (59 male and 139 female) attending the outpatient diabetes clinic at the Kenyatta National Hospital were interviewed on their level of knowledge and use of the HbA_1C test, as well as their last HbA_1C level. The respondent answers were tabulated, analyzed and summarized. The sample mean, standard deviation and percentages were calculated.

Results

Of the 198 patients interviewed, 11 (5.6%) had type I diabetes mellitus (DM) while 187 (94.4%) had type II DM. One hundred and thirty four patients (67.7%) had heard of the HbA_1C test while 64 patients (32.3%) had never heard of the test. Forty patients (20.2%) had at one point done the test while 158 (79.8%) had never done the test. The mean HbA_1C level of the 40 patients who had at any one time done the test was 8.5 ± 1.7%, with more than 90% having HbA_1C > 8%.

Conclusion

Using self-reported accounts, the current study indicates inadequate knowledge and infrequent testing of HbA_1C among diabetic outpatients in Kenya. This lack of knowledge and awareness may lead to increased susceptibility to the development of diabetic complications, and potentially higher healthcare costs among these patients. It is our recommendation that policy makers focus on strategies that address HbA_1C test accessibility in Kenya, including financial coverage by the national insurance to access the test in public facilities, so as to effectively monitor and combat DM.

【 授权许可】

   
2013 Matheka et al.; licensee BioMed Central Ltd.

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