Title: Self-Management Practices among Patients with Diabetes Mellitus (DM) Attending Tertiary Health Facilities in Anambra State, Nigeria
Authors: Ezenwa, Nneoma Sylvia, Anieche, John Emenike ,
Volume: 10
Issue: 7
Pages: 98-110
Publication Date: 2026/07/28
Abstract:
Diabetes mellitus (DM) is one of the major non-communicable diseases. Self-management in DM includes practices which are crucial for controlling DM, preventing complications and improving quality of life. This study assessed the self-management practices of People with DM attending tertiary health facilities in Anambra State, Nigeria. A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among 260 adult patients with diabetes receiving care at tertiary health facilities in Anambra State. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire that was validated and tested for internal consistency with reliability index of 0.82 (via Spearman-Brown Coefficient Correlation). Findings of the study revealed that DM patients attending tertiary health facilities in Anambra State have good knowledge (81.2%), a substantial number (43.9%) were positive in their perception of self-management of DM and healthy eating was carried-out to a high extent (93.7%). High cost of self-management was the major barrier to self-management while faith-healing emerged as the most commonly practiced non-medical self-management among the patients (68.2%). There were significant associations between knowledge and practice of self-management (p-value = 0.001) and between perception and practice of self-management (p-value = 0.005) among people with DM but no significant association was observed between demographic variables and the knowledge of self-management of DM as well as the extent of practice of self-management among DM patients respectively (p-values > 0.05). The findings suggest a multifaceted approach be extended to various stakeholders involved in the self-management as well as the management of Diabetes mellitus (DM) such as Diabetes mellitus patients/ people living with Diabetes mellitus (PLWDM) and their significant other, community leaders, social-media influencers, healthcare providers (Nurses, Doctors, Nutritionists/Dieticians and so on), health policy makers, health institution managers and the Government.