Resumo

MVULENI, L et al. Health literacy on diabetes mellitus among a working population of Mthatha, Eastern Cape Province, South Africa. SAMJ, S. Afr. med. j. [online]. 2025, vol.115, n.11b, pp.122-128. ISSN 2078-5135.  https://doi.org/10.7196/SAMJ.2025.v115i11b.3479.

BACKGROUND. Diabetes mellitus is one of the major killers in low- and middle-income countries. Health literacy of diabetes mellitus is crucial for effective management and prevention strategies. However, socioeconomic factors in Mthatha, South Africa, may limit adult awareness, exacerbating the prevalence of the chronic disease. OBJECTIVES. To assess the level of knowledge of diabetes mellitus among adults in work settings in Mthatha. METHODS. This quantitative cross-sectional study used validated questionnaires to collect data among randomly selected adult workers in Mthatha. The study participants were aged 18 - 60 years, residing and working in Mthatha in the King Sabata Dalindyebo (KSD) subdistrict. Sample size calculations targeted recruiting a minimum of 118 participants. Knowledge adequacy was set at 70%. Helsinki declarations on ethical principles were adhered to throughout the study. RESULTS. A total of 118 adults, predominantly female (60.2%), with a median age of 34 years and 64.8% with post-matriculation education, participated in the study. The study revealed that only 7.6% of the participants had an adequate knowledge of diabetes mellitus, while 64.4% had a poor knowledge. Only 69.5% of the participants associated excessive sugar consumption with the development of diabetes mellitus, while 44.1% believed that medication was a better option for the control of diabetes than a diet, 34.7% understood that poor blood circulation as a complication was associated with the condition, and only 16.1% identified excessive sweating and shaking as signs of increased blood sugar levels. CONCLUSION. Health literacy regarding diabetes mellitus among adult workers in Mthatha is notably low. Improving health literacy knowledge of public health and behaviour modification is crucial to successfully decrease the incidence and number of deaths associated with diabetes mellitus. Innovative approaches tailored for the control of diabetes mellitus in the workplace are needed to balance behaviour and clinical interventions on the management of the condition.

Palavras-chave : adults; diabetes mellitus; health literacy; work settings.

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