Mansour Karajibani; Hadi Eslahi; Farzaneh Montazerifar; Fatemeh Razaghee; Alireza Dashipour
Abstract
Background: Knowledge and attitude are the main indicators of awareness about the use of artificial sweeteners. Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate the knowledge, attitude, and practices (KAPs) of patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) in relation to the consumption of low-calorie artificial ...
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Background: Knowledge and attitude are the main indicators of awareness about the use of artificial sweeteners. Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate the knowledge, attitude, and practices (KAPs) of patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) in relation to the consumption of low-calorie artificial sweeteners. Methods: In this descriptive-analytical study, 400 diabetic patients admitted to the diabetes clinic of Bu-Ali hospital in Zahedan were selected by the census method. After recording the demographic characteristics, we assessed participants’ knowledge and attitude through a researcher-made questionnaire. Also, the subjects’ practices were evaluated based on their nutritional behaviors. The answers were marked as good, moderate, and poor. Results: The knowledge and attitude of the study population were 39% and 34.8%, respectively at the ‘poor’ level, 58% and 58.3% at the ‘moderate’ level, and 3% and 7% at the ‘good’ level. There was a significant relationship between patients’ knowledge, attitude and their demographic indicators (p <0.001). Moreover, 8% of patients reported side effects after taking artificial sweeteners, and 20.2% of patients used artificial sweeteners in their pure form beside food. Conclusion: The findings showed that half of the diabetic patients had moderate knowledge and attitude concerning the consumption of artificial sweeteners. They had limited information about low-calorie sweeteners, which affected their nutritional behaviors so that almost half of the subjects did not consume any sweeteners. It has been suggested that appropriate educational programs be designed and implemented to overcome this information gap.
Rita Anaba; Emmanuel Ajuluchukwu Ugwa; Iwasam Elemi Agbor; Matthew Igwe Nwali; Bright Orji
Abstract
Background: The fertility rate is high and the contraceptive prevalence rate is very low in Nigeria. Thus, women in Nigeria are exposed to the dangers of unwanted and unplanned pregnancies. Objective: The current study aimed to determine the levels of knowledge, attitudes, and contraceptive preferences ...
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Background: The fertility rate is high and the contraceptive prevalence rate is very low in Nigeria. Thus, women in Nigeria are exposed to the dangers of unwanted and unplanned pregnancies. Objective: The current study aimed to determine the levels of knowledge, attitudes, and contraceptive preferences among couples in selected health facilities in Ebonyi State so as to recommend a package of intervention to increase contraception uptake. Methods: This cross-sectional descriptive quantitative study used questionnaires administered by the researchers themselves among 128 postpartum women who were current users of contraceptive methods in Izzi, Ezza South, and Ikwo local government areas of Ebonyi State, Nigeria from January 1, 2016 to June 30, 2017. Informed consent was obtained from participants. Data was analyzed using SPSS version 20. Simple percentages were used to report categorical variables. Results: The study results showed that most of the respondents (49%) had a secondary education, were aged above 20 years, and were mainly employed as civil servants with an average monthly income of $47.20. About 69% had less than 5 living children. Most respondents knew about contraception as a means of delaying pregnancy or limiting the number of children (37%) and recommended its use for family/society (46%). The most commonly used contraceptive methods were implants and injectable ones, while the IUD was the least preferred. Both implants and injectable contraceptives were recommended by friends and believed to be highly effective. Conclusion: The current study showed that knowledge and positive attitude of participants towards family planning was high, comparable to studies in other parts of the world. Further research on determinants of postpartum use of family planning methods among this population is recommended.