PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to assess the knowledge, attitudes and practice and impact of socioeconomic factors upon the prevalence of pre-diabetes, diabetes, hypertension and disability amongst a large adult population in rural Bangladesh.
METHODS/DESIGN: A sample of 3104 adults aged ≥30 years were interviewed from a cluster sample of 18 villages in the Banshgram Union of the Narail District located 200 kilometers southwest of the capital city Dhaka, Bangladesh. Each participant was interivewed using a semi-structured questionnaire that assessed participant knowledge, attitudes and practice (KAP) regarding diabetes, its risk factors, complications and management. Data on demographic details, education, socioeconomic status, medical history, dietary and lifestyle behaviour was obtained. Fasting capillary glucose, blood pressure, presenting vision and anthropometric parameters were measured.
DISCUSSION: In Banshgram, over 95% people had not undergone any previous diabetes screening, and were unaware of their blood glucose level. Baseline demographics estimated the prevalence of known diabetes in the sample was 3.2% (n=99). 47% of participants had no formal education; and 91% of the participants were from a poor or medium socioeconomic background.
Whilst there is literature on the prevalence of diabetes in urban and semi-urban Bangladesh there is a paucity of evidence examining the impact of KAP of diabetes amongst the general community in rural and remote areas. We believe that the BPDES has developed a methodology to provide new evidence to guide health policy and targeted population-based interventions in these rural areas.
SUMMARY FINDINGS
- Of 3104 participants: 220 (7.3%) had diabetes, 55% of them were previously undiagnosed.
- Visual impairment 29.1%, single disability 28.6%, multiple disability 14.7%. Please see the article: https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0165625
- 1256 (40%) had hypertension, 82% of them were previously undiagnosed. Please see the article: http://dro.deakin.edu.au/view/DU:30083578
- 96% of people did not go through an eye examination within a year before the data collection in 2012-2013. Please see the article: https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0133043
- 90% of people did not hear about diabetic retinopathy and 85% of people did not know diabetes could cause eye diseases. Please see two articles below: https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0110368
- http://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/7/9/e016745.info.
- We have published an article titled “Accuracy and reliability of retinal photo grading for Diabetic Retinopathy: remote graders from a developing country and standard retinal photo grader in Australia” in a leading International Journal (Public Library of Science (PLOS One, USA). (http://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0179310).
- This is a significant contribution to the health sector in Bangladesh. The model can be used at international level, especially in the developing countries.
PEER-REVIEWED PUBLICATIONS FROM THIS STUDY
- Islam FMA Bhowmik JL, Islam SZ, Renzaho AMN, Hiller JE. 2016. Factors Associated with Disability in Rural Bangladesh: Bangladesh Population-based Diabetes and Eye Study (BPDES). PLOS One. December 9, 2016. pone.0165625
- Islam FMA Chakrabarti R, Islam MT, Wahab M. Finger RP, Shaw J. Pre-diabetes, Undiagnosed and known Diabetes and their risk factors in a Rural area in Bangladesh. J Diabetes. 2015 Apr 7. doi: 10.1111/1753-0407.12294.
- Chakrabarti R, Finger RP, Islam MT, Lamoureux E, Wahab M, Islam FMA 2015. Methodology of the Bangladesh Population-based Diabetes and Eye Study (BPDES) conducted in a rural area in Bangladesh. Bangladesh Journal of Medical Science. 2015. 14 (4): 367-375.
- Islam FMA Bhuyan A, Chakrabarti R., Rahman A, Hiller J. Undiagnosed Hypertension and its risk factors in a Rural district in Bangladesh. Journal of Human Hypertension. 2015. 1–8.
- Islam FMA, Chakrabarti R, Islam SZ, Finger RP, Critchley C. 2015. Factors associated with awareness, attitudes and practices regarding common eye diseases in rural Bangladesh: The Bangladesh Population- based Diabetes and Eye Study (BPDES). PLoS One. 10(7): e0133043. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0133043.
- Islam FMA. 2016. Accuracy for grading Diabetic Retinopathy: Retinal photo graders from a developing country and standard grader in Australia. PLOS One. DOI:10.1371/journal.pone.0179310
- Islam FMA, Chakrabarti R, Islam MT, Ormsby G, Parvez R Wahab M, Critchley C* and Finger RP*. Knowledge of Diabetics in a Rural Community in Bangladesh. PLoS One. 2014: 10.1371/journal.pone.0110368.
Scientific Presentations
8. Islam FMA, Critchley C. Asma L, Wahab M, Finger RP. Diabetic retinopathy in a population based and a hospital-based sample in a rural district Narail in Bangladesh. World Diabetes Conference, December 4-8, 2017. Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre, Abu Dhabi.
9. Hossen A, Zaman M, Chakrabarti R, Kawasaki R, Critchley C, ShawJ, Finger R, Islam FMA. World Diabetes Congress, November 30-December 4, 2015. Vancouver, BC V6C 0C3, Canada. http://www.vancouverconventioncentre.com/events/world-diabetes-congress-2015 (poster discussion).
10. Islam FMA, Chakrabarti Rand Critchley C. Knowledge, Attitudes and Practice of common Eye Diseases in a Rural district in Bangladesh. Asia ARVO, February 16-19, 2015. Pacifico Yokohama, Yokohoma, Japan. Http://ARVO.org/Asia-ARVO. (oral presentation).
11. Islam F.M.A., Chakrabarti R.,Islam T., Finger R.P., Wahab M., Development of a Risk Assessment Tool for Undiagnosed Diabetes for Rural People in Bangladesh. World Diabetes Congress, Melbourne, 2-6th December, 2013.
12. Islam F.M.A., Chakrabarti R.,Islam T., Finger R.P., Wahab M., Undiagnosed Diabetes in a Rural Community in Bangladesh: The Diabetes Risk in a Rural Community (DRIRC) Study. World Diabetes Congress, Melbourne, 2-6th December, 2013.
13. Islam FMA, Chakrabarti R.,Islam T., Orsmby G.M., Wahab M., Knowledge related to diabetes mellitus in a rural community in Bangladesh. The Diabetes Risk in a Rural Community (DRIRC) Study. World Diabetes Congress, Melbourne, 2-6th December, 2013.