Prevalence of risk factors for diabetes mellitus type 2 among rural population of selected sector in Rwanda

Abstract

Background: Diabetes mellitus type 2 is a significant health problem worldwide, including populations in Sub-Saharan African countries such as Rwanda. Therefore it is very important to get the risk factors which influence its occurrence among different people, especially the detection of modifiable risk factors to aid in the prevention and early intervention of this highly preventable disease. Aim of the study: To find out the prevalence of risk factors for type 2 diabetes among a population of Kibirizi sector. Methodology: The study was a descriptive cross-sectional population-based study of the prevalence of risk factors for diabetes mellitus Type 2 (T2DM). The target population was males and females of Kibirizi sector in Gisagara District aged 18-74 years. The study used a convenience sampling strategy with a sample size of 275. A structured diabetes risk questionnaire, anthropometric measurements, weight, height, waist circumference, arterial blood pressure measurement and BMI calculation were used to gather data. Results: Findings showed that among respondents 55.6% ranged between 18-44 ages, 56.7% of all participants studied primary school while other 27.3% was illiterate; 73.09% of the total respondents do not eat vegetables or fruits every day increasing the risk of being exposed to T2DM. Alcohol consumption was 55.6%. About the arterial blood pressure, (56.7%) have a pre hypertension that can be complicated in stage I hypertension. Being at risk is determined by the total scoring of the risk factors classified as moderate or high risk category; among participants 31.3% (13.1% male and 18.2% female) was in Moderate risk category ranged between 21 and 32 points, and 6.9% (3.3% male and 3.6% female) was in the high risk category ranged above 32 points. For this results female are highly exposed since 21.8% over 16.4% male were in the high risk. Conclusion: Significant risk factors in this study were being educated at low level, not eating fruits or vegetable regularly, alcohol consumption, pre-hypertension among participant. Screening and health education should be engaged at the community level with measurement of anthropometric measures and blood pressure to prevent T2DM through risk factors screening.