Association between poverty status and self care practices among diabetic patients in Morocco

Diabetes is a chronic and progressive disease that affects individuals' daily lives by causing both acute and chronic complications. Its control largely depends on self-management by the patient, but precarious socioeconomic conditions limit its effectiveness. This study aims to determine the impact of living in poverty on self-care practices among diabetic patients and identify the practices that are impaired by poverty. A cross-sectional analytical study was conducted among diabetic patients in the province of Agadir Ida Outane, Morocco. Self-care practices were measured via the Moroccan Arabic version of the SDSCA questionnaire. Logistic regression was employed to predict the relationship between poverty status and self-care practices after adjusting for potential confounding variables. The standard significance threshold was set at 0.05. Data processing and analysis were carried out via Jamovi statistical analysis software, version (2.3.28). A total of 377 confirmed diabetic patients who were receiving treatment were included in the study. The results of multiple logistic regressions show that poverty is associated with poor diabetes self-care practices (ORa = 1.72; 95% CI [1.01–2.94]; p = 0.047). The self-care dimensions significantly linked to poverty status are physical exercise (p = 0.005), blood glucose monitoring (p = < 0.001), and foot care (p = < 0.001). Implementing appropriate measures to strengthen diabetes self-management among patients in precarious socioeconomic conditions is essential.