title: Gender difference in care of type 2 diabetes.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Biologically male and female have similar diabetes prevalence. Gender differences in the social structure bring differences in life style modifications and all other self care behaviors in type 2 diabetes. The primary purpose of this study was to assess the gender difference in care of type 2 diabetes in Western region, Nepal.
  
  
  METHODS
  Hundred men and hundred women respondents participated in a cross-sectional study conducted in two hospitals in Pokhara, Nepal. A pre-tested questionnaire was administered to each of the respondents.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Dry mouth (χ2 = 3.977, P = 0.046) and abdominal pain (χ2 = 3.840, P = 0.050) were reported as symptoms of diabetes in 51% and 31% women compared to 37% and 19% men respectively. The study revealed that women had low self-efficacy with respect to their diabetes care (35%) in comparison to men (65%). There was significant association between gender and diet practices which showed men have 0.328 (95% CI: 0.184 - 0.585) times less chances of bad dietary practices compared to women. After adjusting for age, education, occupation and self-efficacy, men were less likely to have bad dietary practices (OR= 0.513, 95% CI: 0.266, 0.992).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The result of this study provided evidence that there are gender differences in reporting of symptoms, mode of diagnosis and certain self-management behaviors. Therefore there is a need to design gender specific behavior change communication strategies for better management of type 2 diabetes.
authors.affiliation: School of Public Health, SRM University, India.
authors.forename: Aamod Dhoj
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: Shrestha
authors.forename: Kalpana
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kosalram
authors.forename: Vijayaprasad
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Gopichandran
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008019:Life Style; D008297:Male; D055118:Medication Adherence; D008875:Middle Aged; D009390:Nepal; D012648:Self Care; D020377:Self Efficacy; D012737:Sex Factors; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
keywords: diabetes care, gender, self-efficacy, self-management