SELF-MANAGEMENT GOAL SETTING AMONG WOMEN DIAGNOSED WITH GESTATIONAL DIABETES MELLITUS; A CROSS-SECTIONAL STUDY IN A LOW-INCOME SETTING IN CENTRAL UGANDA.

David Serunjogi; David Livingstone  Ejalu

doi:10.51168/sjhrafrica.v5i6.1096

Authors

David Serunjogi Faculty of Health Sciences, Uganda Martyrs University.
David Livingstone Ejalu Faculty of Health Sciences, Uganda Martyrs University.

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.51168/sjhrafrica.v5i6.1096

Keywords:

Self-management, Goal setting, Women, Gestational Diabetes Mellitus, low-income setting

Abstract

Background:

Copying with a diagnosis of Gestational Diabetes Mellitus (GDM) is very stressful and the task of GDM Self-management is challenging given the circumstances that surround the diagnosis amidst the challenges of pregnancy. In Uganda, little is known about how women diagnosed with the condition manage it through pregnancy. The study assessed the prevalence of self-management goal setting and associated factors among women diagnosed with Gestational Diabetes Mellitus in a low-income setting in central Uganda.

Methodology:

A cross-sectional study was done among 245 women who attended antenatal care in the selected 16 health facilities within Wakiso district, central Uganda who were diagnosed with GDM during their visit to the Clinics from July 2021 to May 2022. Data was collected using telephone interviews, and analyzed using SPSS, the results were reported in the form of tables and figures. Data was collected from March 2023 to May 2023.

Results:

The majority 123(53.9%) of the respondents were aged between 28 to 37 years old. Only 17% (n=41) of women diagnosed with GDM managed to set a self-management goal. The common self-management goals set include doing 1-2 Ultrasound scans during pregnancy to monitor the baby 82.93%(n=34%), followed by doing regular exercises 63.41% (n=26) and eating a regular diet every day 53.66% (n=22).

Conclusion:

Only a small proportion of women diagnosed with GDM can set self-management goals with common goals being doing Ultrasound scans, regular exercise, and eating regular diets.

Recommendation:

There is a need for public health specialists to study the factors that might be associated with setting self-management goals in a low-income setting of Wakiso district, Uganda.

Author Biographies

David Serunjogi, Faculty of Health Sciences, Uganda Martyrs University.

is a researcher with an interest in contributing to the control of the growing burden of NCD in Africa particularly focusing on designing public health interventions aimed at improving the quality of life among infected people, and delaying the new infections of Diabetes and Hypertension in Africa. His current work is focusing on understanding the challenges that come with transforming the available public health information and evidence into practice among people infected with Diabetes and Hypertension in Africa and designing well-tailored interventions. He has trained in 1). Biomedical Laboratory Technology, and 2). Public Health-Health Promotion from the Faculty of Health Sciences at Uganda Martyrs University, 3). Fundamentals of Implementation Science from the University of Washington, 4). Introduction to Hypertension Research, and 5). Fundamentals of Epidemiology and biostatistics for Hypertension Research from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine.