Self- Care Practices and Associated Factors among Adult Diabetic Patients in Public Hospitals of Dire Dawa Administration, Eastern Ethiopia

Abstract Background Diabetes is a huge growing problem, and causes high and escalating costs to the society. Self- care practice for adults with diabetes is not well addressed in sub-Saharan Africa including Ethiopia. To prevent serious morbidity and mortality, diabetes treatment requires commitment to demanding self-care practice. The aim of this study was to assess self- care practices and its associated factors among adults with diabetes in Dire Dawa public hospitals of Eastern, Ethiopia. METHODS This Cross-sectional study was conducted among 513 adults with diabetes. The Study participants were selected through systematic random sampling. Data was collected from February 1 st to March 1 st , 2018. Patients were interviewed using a structured questionnaire. Data were entered into Epi-data version 3.3.1 and exported to SPSS version 22.0 for analysis. Bivariable and multivariable logistic regression with crude and adjusted odds ratios along with the 95% confidence interval was computed and interpreted accordingly. A P-value of <0.05 was considered to declare a result as statistically significant. RESULT The result of the study showed that 55.9%, (95% CI: 51.4, 60.3) of participants had good self-care practices. Good self-care practice was associated with having family support, treatment satisfaction, diabetes education, having glucometer, higher educational status, duration of the disease, high economic status and having good knowledge. There were statistical association between good diabetes knowledge (AOR= 2.14, 95% CI:1.37, 3.35), family support system (AOR= 2.69, 95% CI:1.56, 4.62), treatment satisfaction (AOR= 2.07, 95% CI:1.18, 3.62), diabetes education (AOR= 2.21, 95% CI: 1.35, 3.63), high economic status (AOR= 1.89, 95% CI: 1.01, 3.48), having glucometer,(AOR=2.69, 95% CI:1.57, 4.63),higher educational status (AOR= 2.68, 95% CI: 1.31, 5.49), and duration of disease greater than 10 years AOR=2.70, 95% CI: 1.17, 6.26) with good self-care practice. Conclusion In this study a substantial number of the patients had poor self-care practices especially dietary practice and self-monitoring of blood glucose which have critical roles in controlling diabetes. Provision of diabetes self-care education and counseling especially on importance of self-monitoring of blood glucose, and dietary practice should be considered by responsible bodies.