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  3. ASSESSING THE PREVALENCE OF DIABETES WITHIN THE SUNYANI MUNICIPALITY. A CASE OF THE SUNYANI REGIONAL HOSPITAL
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Joseph Barimah Antwi , Bernard Opoku Amoah , James Dumba

ASSESSING THE PREVALENCE OF DIABETES WITHIN THE SUNYANI MUNICIPALITY. A CASE OF THE SUNYANI REGIONAL HOSPITAL

 

The study assessed the prevalence of diabetes in the Sunyani Municipality, a case study at the Sunyani Regional Hospital by focusing on determining the predisposing factors leading to diabetes. The study utilized purposive and convenience sampling in selecting 75 respondents for the study at the Diabetes Clinic of the Sunyani Regional Hospital. From the study, the result indicates that respondents who have a family history of diabetes were more likely to be diagnosed with the condition (OR 1.321, CI: 0.900-1.941) than those who do not have a family history of diabetes (OR 0.591, CI: 0.310-1.125). Respondents who were on high blood pressure medication were more likely to be diagnosed with diabetes (OR 1.500, CI: 1.075-2.093). It was further found that those who smoke cigarettes or any tobacco product daily were more likely to be diagnosed with diabetes (OR 1.500, CI: 0.326-6.904). The study, therefore, recommends that the Ministry of Health and the Ghana Health Service should intensify Diabetes education campaigns to create more awareness about the various predisposing/risk factors of the disease to the general citizenry especially when the disease burden poses a devastating impact on people.  The study further recommended that there should be a national policy by the Government of Ghana to set aside World Diabetes Day as a day to organize free Diabetes screening across all communities in the country. This when routinely done would contribute to early detection of diabetes and would significantly contribute to the control of the disease.