Prevalence of diabetes mellitus among adults in rural north central Nigeria

Abstract

Background: Diabetes Mellitus is one of the noncommunicable diseases and a public health problem facing the world. This chronic disease is expected to rise due to rapid population growth, urbanization, aging, obesity and physical inactivity. The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence of Diabetes Mellitus among rural adults in North Central Nigeria.
Method: We carried out a cross-sectional descriptive study of 750 subjects aged ≥15years using systematic sampling technique. Blood samples were collected from subjects for the estimation of plasma glucose concentration using the glucose oxidase method. Diabetes mellitus was diagnosed according to standard guidelines.
Results: The study population consisted of 385 (51.3%) males and 365 (48.7%) females (male: female 1.05:1) with a mean age of 39.42±16.17years. The overall prevalence of diabetes mellitus in this study was 4.1%. The prevalence was 5.2% in males and 3.0% in females (male: female of 1.7:1). None of the subjects had plasma glucose levels in the impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) range.
Conclusion: The overall prevalence rate of diabetes mellitus in the study is higher than previously reported from northern parts of Nigeria; thus, it seems the prevalence of diabetes mellitus may be increasing among the adults of north central Nigeria. There is need for active screening for diabetes mellitus among the adults in rural Nigeria.

Keywords: Adults, Diabetes Mellitus, Nigeria, Prevalence