Assessment of knowledge and preventive measures of diabetes mellitus among patients in Kishi town, oyo state, Nigeria

Introduction: Diabetes mellitus is a growing health concern in Nigeria, with significant impacts on individuals' health and quality of life. Understanding knowledge, attitude, and preventive practices is crucial to reduce burden of the disease. This study assessed knowledge and attitude towards preventive measures of diabetes mellitus among patients attending selected hospitals in Kishi Town, Oyo State, Nigeria. Methodology: The study used a descriptive cross-sectional study witha structured questionnaire involving 192 respondents, selected through multistage sampling technique, from six hospitals in Kishi Town. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and chi-square tests, with a significance level set at p < 0.05. Results: This showed that 73.4% of respondents had good knowledge of diabetes mellitus, with a significant association between education level and knowledge (p < 0.001). There was positive attitude (71.3%) towards diabetes management, and age was significantly associated with attitudes (p < 0.02). Preventive measuresof regular physical activity (58.9%) and blood sugar monitoring (47.4%) were reported by 51.0% mostly by the respondents. However, religion was not significantly associated with preventive practices (p > 0.28). Conclusion and Recommendations: Despite good knowledge and positive attitude towards diabetes, there were gaps in preventive practices due to certain constraints. Health educational programs focused on preventive measures and healthcare access.