Psycho-social Issues among Adolescents with Diabetes Mellitus: Experience from Two Nigerian Hospitals.

Abstract

Background: Diabetes mellitus is known to have adverse effect on the psycho-social functioning of the adolescent but its magnitude is poorly documented.
Objective: To describe the psychosocial issues observed among Nigerian adolescent diabetics attending the Paediatric outpatient clinics of two Nigerian hospitals.
Methods: In this cross-sectional study, information was obtained via an interviewer-administered questionnaire from 33 adolescents with diabetes mellitus attending Paediatric Clinics of two Nigerian hospitals. The socioeconomic status of the families of the subjects was assessed as well as their knowledge and attitudes towards diabetes mellitus.
Results: Over one-third of the families (33.6%) of the participants were of low socioeconomic status. The aspect of the treatment which majority (75.8%) of the subjects disliked most was the insulin injection. Delayed menarche and short stature occurred in 15.8% and 9.7% of cases respectively. The two obese adolescents with type 2 diabetes were skipping meals as a strategy for weight reduction. Majority (93.5%) of the participants stated they were not enjoying things the way they used to before the diagnosis of diabetes.
Conclusion: Psychosocial challenges are common among adolescents with diabetes mellitus, indicating the need to assist the patients and their families in adapting to the psychosocial burden of the disease.

Key words: Adolescents, diabetes mellitus, psychosocial issues, knowledge, attitudes.