PREVALENCE OF DIABETES AND ITS ASSOCIATED FACTORS AMONG HIGH SCHOOL ADOLESCENTS IN BOSSASO CITY, PUNTLAND, SOMALIA

Abstract

Background: Diabetes occurs both in developing and developed countries. In 2021 approximately 1.1 million children and adolescents aged 14–19 years were living with diabetes worldwide, while about 25,000 children and adolescents aged <20 years have diabetes in Africa. Though the problem is rampant, there is limited information about diabetes among High-school adolescents in Somalia. Objectives: To determine the prevalence of diabetes and its associated factors among High-school adolescents in Bossaso City, Somalia, from November 01 to November 30, 2024. Materials and Methods: An institutional-based cross-sectional study was conducted among 422 high school-adolescents in six schools in Bossaso city. A simple random sampling technique was used to select the study participants. The data was collected by four qualified clinical nurses using a structured questionnaire and blood samples was collected and fasting blood glucose test was carried out by two laboratory technologists. The diagnosis was determined based on the American Diabetes Association classification criteria, where participants with fasting blood glucose of ≥126 mg/dl were considered positive for DM. Data was analyzed using SPSS version 25 Bivariate and multivariable logistic regression was done to identify the association between diabetes and independent variables. The level of statistical significance was declared at a p- value < 0.05. Results: A total of 422 participants were included in the study, making the response rate of 100%. The current study revealed that the prevalence of diabetes among adolescents was 4% (17/422; 95% CI: 2.3%, 6.0%). Mothers who had no formal or only primary education (AOR = 0.20, 95% CI [0.05, 0.83], adolescents who did not engage in physical activity during the past week (AOR = 0.11, 95% CI [0.03, 0.90], adolescents who consumed sugary drinks two or more times per day (AOR = 4.10, 95% CI [2.40, 17.4] and adolescents with a family history of diabetes (AOR = 3.80, 95% CI [1.00, 14.60], p = .045) were found to be significantly associated with diabetes status. Conclusion: The present study found a relatively high prevalence of diabetes among adolescents in Bossaso City, Somalia compared to expected rates in similar population. Significant associations were found including mothers who had no formal or only primary education, adolescents who did not engage in physical activity during the past week, who consumed sugary drinks two or more times per day and adolescents with a family history of diabetes. Therefore, implementing routine diabetes screening programs within schools and community health centers to facilitate early detection among adolescents.