Evaluating the Level of Knowledge of University Students about Diabetes Mellitus

 Diabetes mellitus is a heterogeneous group of diseases characterized by chronic elevation of glucose in the blood. This disease is currently considered a major public health challenge worldwide, and raising awareness of risk factors and complications associated with diabetes has been a common strategy for controlling disease incidence. This study aimed to investigate the knowledge level about diabetes and its relationship with demographic factors in students of Health and Medical Technology University in Baghdad City.
Instruments &

 This descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted on 119 students of Health and Medical Technology University in Baghdad City, during 2021-2022. Data were collected using a research-made questionnaire consisting of two sections: The first section included demographic information, and the second section included diabetes information. The knowledge levels were classified into three classes: adequate, acceptable, and inadequate. A logistic regression test was used to investigate the contribution of demographic variables to the knowledge level of subjects. Data were analyzed using SPSS 22 software.

 47.1% of respondents had adequate knowledge, 27.7% had acceptable knowledge, and 25.2% had inadequate knowledge. The contribution of four demographic factors, including age, gender, habitat, and family history of diabetes, in the adequate knowledge level of the subjects was 88%, 78%, 77%, and 81%, respectively (p<0.001).

 The knowledge of the students of Health and Medical Technology University in Baghdad City about diabetes is at an adequate level. Four demographic factors, including age, gender, habitat, and family history of diabetes, play a role in the adequate knowledge level.