Knowledge, Attitude and Practice of Diabetic Retinopathy Among Patients Attending the Diabetes Clinic at the Bamenda Regional Hospital, Cameroon

Abstract

Background: Diabetic retinopathy (DR), a vision-threatening complication associated with diabetes, requires careful management in diabetic patients. Awareness of diabetic retinopathy varies significantly across studies, with a 37.1% awareness reported in a population-based study in India, compared to 22.7% in a hospital-based study conducted at Kenyatta National Hospital in Kenya.1, 2 No previous study has been conducted in Cameroon, particularly in the Bamenda region. However, the prevalence of DR in Cameroon ranges from 20.6% in the North West Region to 40.3% across the country.3, 4 Objective: To assess the knowledge, attitude, and practices related to diabetic retinopathy among diabetic patients at Bamenda Regional Hospital. Design: Hospital-based, Cross-sectional study. Study Setting: Bamenda Regional Hospital diabetic clinic, North West Region of Cameroon. Methods: Questionnaires were distributed to 98 diabetic patients to evaluate their knowledge, attitude, and practices concerning diabetic retinopathy. The data was analyzed using the SPSS version 27. Results: Out of 98 participants, 69.4% had knowledge that diabetes mellitus affects the eye. However, only 64.7% and 45.6% correctly named and defined diabetic retinopathy respectively. 33% of the respondents had been referred to a specialist eye doctor. Also, 52% of the Diabetes Mellitus (DM) patients and 50% of the diabetic mothers had undergone routine eye exams since their diagnosis of diabetes. DM patients also had a low attitude towards eye screening for DR. Conclusion: Most participants were aware that diabetes affects the eyes but could not clearly explain what the disease entails. Knowledge about the risk factors, screening, and treatment for DR was low. Additionally, the referral of diabetic patients to eye doctors was inadequate, and the frequency of eye examinations among diabetic patients was low.