# Self-care practice and associated factors among patients with diabetes on follow-up at Yirgalem General Hospital, Sidama, Ethiopia: a cross-sectional study

## TL;DR

This study found that about 60% of diabetes patients in Ethiopia practice good self-care, with factors like marital status and access to a glucometer playing a role.

## Contribution

The study identifies key predictors of good diabetes self-care in a specific Ethiopian hospital setting.

## Key findings

- Only 59.4% of patients practiced good overall diabetes self-care.
- Urban residence and owning a glucometer were linked to better self-care practices.
- Single marital status was a strong predictor of good self-care.

## Abstract

Self-care practice is an integral and efficient part of comprehensive diabetes management, which could be influenced by various socio-demographic, clinical, and lifestyle factors.

The study aimed to assess the level of diabetes self-care practice and its associated factors among patients with diabetes on follow-up at Yirgalem General Hospital, Yirgalem, Sidama, Ethiopia.

An Institution-based cross-sectional study was conducted from February 15 to May 10, 2022, involving 298 patients with diabetes on follow-up at Yirgalem General Hospital. A pre-tested interviewer-administered questionnaire was utilized to collect data from patients. A descriptive analysis was conducted to determine the level of good self-care practice. Bivariate and multivariable binary logistics regression were performed to determine factors associated with good diabetic self-care practice. Associations with a p-value < 0.05 were considered statistically significant.

The overall good diabetic self-care practice among patients was 59.4%. Regarding the specific domains of care, 15 (5%) participants had good self-glucose monitoring care, 228 (76.5%) had good exercise self-care, 268 (89.9%) had good dietary self-care, 228 (76.5%) had good foot self-care, and 260 (87.2%) had good diabetic medication adherence. Single marital status (AOR = 5.7, 95% CI: (1.418, 22.915), urban residence (AOR = 2.992, 95% CI: (1.251, 7.153)), and having a glucometer (AOR = 2.273, 95% CI: (1.083, 4.772)) were factors that were significantly associated with good diabetic self-care practice.

Good diabetic self-care practices among participants was low. Marital status, place of residence, and having a glucometer were statistically significant predictors of good diabetic self-care practices. Targeted intervention addressing those patients from rural areas to increase awareness and practice of self-care, as well as the promotion of having a glucometer at home for self-glucose monitoring is recommended.

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12902-024-01647-9.