Characteristics of Diabetes Type II Foot Complications at Kisii Teaching and Referral Hospital, Kenya

Abstract

Diabetes is a global non-communicable disease with a prevalence of 3.3% in Kenya and 11% in Kisii County. It is estimated that somewhere in the world, every 30 seconds a person suffering from advanced diabetes loses a limb to amputation due to foot complications, which in turn have negative impact on patients’ lives and puts them at risk of losing their independence, with social, psychological, and economic effects. The study aimed to determining the prevalence of foot complications, foot care knowledge, and self-care practices among patients with Type 2 Diabetes. The study involved 175 patients seeking care at the outpatient clinic at Kisii Teaching and Referral Hospital. Fisher exact test and chi-square test were used to evaluate association and assess the strength of interaction between variables. The most prevalent foot complication was corns, with male gender being associated with 85.7%. The study found that participants had poor foot care knowledge, average self-care practices, and did not know the signs of diabetic foot at risk. The study also found a significant association between foot care knowledge and diabetes duration and education background. Addressing this knowledge gap could involve incorporating health education on diabetes complications into community programs. Regular assessments from healthcare workers are recommended to identify foot at risk and prevent serious complications.