Diabetes awareness among African Americans in rural North Carolina.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the extent of diabetes unawareness in rural North Carolina.


METHODS
Randomly administered an eight-question survey to African Americans age 15-74 living in Halifax County North Carolina.


RESULTS
Ninety-five out of 116 eligible participants completed the survey (82% response rate). Most (67%) of the participants reported having two or more major risk factors for Type II diabetes (diabetes mellitus). More than half (51.6%) of the participants were obese. Most (96.8%) of the participants reported having been tested for diabetes at some point in their lives (10% testedpositive, only 8.4% of the remaining 9o% reported ever having a second test).


CONCLUSIONS
Diabetes mellitus is a very prevalentproblem among the African American population of Halifax County North Carolina. Our study underscores the fact that patients are not systematically screened and followed-up for diabetes melitus. More healthcare and commnity programs need to be adapted to fight this serious public health problem.
Antony
Angela K
AK
Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138-7500, USA.
Baaklini
Walid A
WA
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001741:Black or African American / Q000523:psychology*; D000368:Aged; D001294:Attitude to Health; D001364:Awareness; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000523:psychology; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009657:North Carolina; D012307:Risk Factors; D012423:Rural Health