title: Knowledge, attitude and practices related to diabetes among community members in four provinces in Kenya: a cross-sectional study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  This cross-sectional study sought to establish the level of knowledge of diabetes among community members in rural and urban setups in Kenya and determine how this impacts on their attitude and practices towards diabetes.
  
  
  METHODS
  A face-to-face interview was done for selected respondents using a structured questionnaire for data collection.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  1982 respondents, 1151 (58.1%) female and 831 (41.9%) males aged between 13 and 65 years were interviewed. 539 (27.2%) of all the respondents had good knowledge of diabetes; of these 52% had tertiary education; 25% had secondary education while 14% and 9% had primary and no education, respectively. Only 971(49%) of the respondents had a positive attitude towards diabetes while 813 (41%) demonstrated good practices towards diabetes.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study indicates that the level of knowledge of diabetes in all regions in the country is very poor. It also indicates very poor attitudes and practices of the community towards diabetes. A comprehensive nationwide diabetes education programme is necessary to improve this situation.
authors.affiliation: Ministry of Public Health and Sanitation, Nairobi, Kenya.
authors.forename: Maina William
authors.initials: MW
authors.lastname: Kiberenge
authors.forename: Zachary Muriuki
authors.initials: ZM
authors.lastname: Ndegwa
authors.forename: Eva Wangechi
authors.initials: EW
authors.lastname: Njenga
authors.forename: Eva Wangui
authors.initials: EW
authors.lastname: Muchemi
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D007630:Kenya; D008019:Life Style; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012424:Rural Population; D017678:Sex Distribution; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014505:Urban Population; D055815:Young Adult