Awareness of Risk Factors for Type-2 Diabetes Mellitus among Undergraduates at a Private University in Nigeria: A Cross-Sectional Survey.

Abstract

Background: Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a chronic condition marked by high blood sugar due to issues with insulin production or function, posing a significant global health challenge. Its prevalence is rapidly increasing, with projections rising from 537 million cases in 2021 to 783 million by 2045, particularly in low- and middle-income countries.

Aim: The study evaluated the level of awareness of predictive factors of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) among undergraduate students of Achievers University Owo, Ondo State, Nigeria.

Methods: A cross-sectional analytical study involving 318 respondents was conducted using a self-administered Google Form questionnaire. Binary and multiple logistic regression analysis were used for data analysis with a significance level set at p<0.05. Analysis were carried out using SPSS version 28.

Results: The study found that 222 (70%) of the respondents have high awareness of predictive factors for the development of T2DM while 96(30%) have low awareness. The study found that age (AOR = 4.883, P<0.001; 95% CI 1.483-2.848), persistent unhealthy diet (AOR = 8.685; 95% CI 1.837-3.285; P<0.006), and heredity (AOR = 6.930; 95% CI 1.294-2.834; P<0.001) are independent predictors of awareness of T2DM.

Conclusion: This study revealed that the participants had a good level of awareness with regard to the predictive factors of T2DM. However, since a significant proportion had a low level of awareness, there is a need for health promotion and educational programs to be run aimed at addressing gaps in knowledge among the undergraduates.