DIABETIC FOOT ULCER PREVENTIVE PRACTICE AND ASSOCIATED FACTORS AMONG DIABETIC PATIENTS ATTENDING DIABETIC CLINIC AT WOLKITE UNIVERSITY SPECIALIZED TEACHING HOSPITAL GURAGE ZONE ETHIOPIA 2023.

Abstract

Background: Diabetic foot ulcer is one of the chronic devastating complications of diabetes mellitus that occurs because of long-term complications that damage to the nerves and reduced blood supply in lower extremity. It is one of the leading causes of lower extremity amputation in adults of working age in developing countries. Objective: This study aims to assess the level of preventive practice of diabetic foot ulcers and associated factors of diabetes patients who have follow-up at Wolkite University Specialized Teaching Hospital, Gurage Zone. Methods and Materials: An institution-based cross-sectional study was conducted from May 20 to June 30,2023 at Wolkite University Specialized Teaching Hospital, Gurage Zone, South western Ethiopia. A convenient sampling method was used to select 295 patients with diabetes included in the study. Data was collected using semi-structured questionnaires after pre-test have been done. Descriptive statistics and logistic regression were performed using SPSS version 24. Result: A total of two hundred ninety-five diabetic patients were participated in this study with the response rate of 100%. Around half (50.8%) of the respondents have good diabetic foot ulcer preventive practice. Sex (being male) (AOR: 4.771, 95% CI: 1.107, 20.570), family history of diabetes (AOR: 4.89, 95% CI: 1.05, 22.56), history of diabetic foot ulcer (AOR: 10.93, 95% CI: 1.40, 111.4) and blood glucose level check-up (AOR: 3.78, 95% CI: 1.11, 12.77) are positively associated with good foot ulcer preventive practice while, whereas occupation (being farmer) is negatively associated. Conclusion and recommendation: The magnitude of diabetic foot ulcer preventive practice was found to be less, where only around half (50.8%) of them had good practice. Sociodemographic factors, Diabetic related information’s, Behavioral factors and Clinical factors were the independent predictors of diabetic foot ulcer preventive practice in the study participants. So, health professionals are recommended to enhance patients’ level of preventive x practices through teaching and coaching them on activities of preventive practices. They also should give special emphasis during follow-up for the patients who are farmers and educating the patients to regularly to check their blood glucose. Regional health bureau and Zone’s health department should give emphasis on enhancing the preventive measures of DFU as one of the major services for the DM patients that prevents serious foot complication.