Predictive Value of Health-Belief and Information-Seeking for Medication-Adherence in Hyperglycemia Among Adolescents Attending Diabetes Clinic at Lagos State University Teaching Hospital Ikeja, Nigeria (1)

Diabetes mellitus is one of the most common non-communicable diseases and has attained epidemic proportion due to the health transition phenomenon observed globally and constituting a serious global public health concern and of wide health and economic impact. This study hopes to identify gaps created in the health information, motivation received, behavioral skills and self-care that regulate glycemic control of diabetes mellitus. A cross-sectional descriptive survey was used because it offers a true depiction of the respondents' attributes; Age, Gender, Knowledge, Perception, Social Support, and Medication-Adherence Level. 160 adolescents attending the diabetes clinic, who attend or may be referred to the clinic of the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH), in Ikeja Local Government, Lagos were the respondents. 1.7 million adults aged 20 years or older or 5.7% of all US adults with diagnosed diabetes reported both having type 1 diabetes and using insulin. 3.6 million adults aged 20 years or older or 12.3% of all US adults with diagnosed diabetes started using insulin within a year of their diagnosis. Findings from this study will contribute to the knowledge base on diabetic medication nonadherence and may encourage health care professionals to advocate for better medication adherence strategies among Adolescents with diabetes. A total of 160 questionnaires were administered and considered adequate for analysis and the demographics for the diabetes mellitus respondents are shown in table 4.1 below. Most of the respondents were female (62.5%), followed by the male counterpart (37.5%). Out of this figure those who believed in Christianity were (56.9%) followed by the Islamic religion (32.5%), while the least were those who were grouped as Traditional (10.6%). Similarly, (8.8%) were married respondents whereas (91.3%) were single. The level of education was stratified with (9.4%) having no formal education, (40.0%) completed primary school and (40.0%) completed secondary school, (10.6) were more than secondary school education. The occupation of the respondents varies with (5.6%) reporting as traders, (5.0%) reporting as Civil servants, (80.6%) reporting as student while (8.8%) were housewife. The average age of participants was 13 years and majority of the respondents had been visiting the hospital facility for up to eight years (48.1%) for treatment where this study was conducted. Our results suggest that respondent’s hyperglycemic control is related to health information, motivation and behavioral skills and self-care which are important variables for promoting hyperglycemic control of diabetes mellitus. Motivation will improve patients’ goals and interests, as well as how to elicit support in other to maintain adequate control of diabetes.