Social support from family, associated factors and relationship with glycemic control among diabetic patients in Uganda: a cross-sectional study.

Introduction: social support from family members in diabetes management is a predictor of optimal glucose control. There is limited evidence of the relationship in Uganda. The objective was to determine association of social support from family and glycemic control, and association of social demographic and clinical characteristics with family support among diabetic patients in eastern Uganda. Methods: this was a cross-sectional study involving 405 adult patients attending diabetic clinics between May 2021 and June 2021. Socio-demographics, clinical characteristics, social support from family, and glycemic control data were collected. Descriptive statistics were done and associations were determined using Pearson chi-square and Fisher´s exact tests. Generalized linear model was used to determine independent association with social support from family. Results: the mean age was 52 years, (60%) were female, majority (49.4%) were 45-64 years old. Perceived social support from family (PSS-fa) and good glucose control were found in; (95.3%) and (20.99%) respectively. PSS-fa was associated with good glucose control. Financial contribution from family members to cost of care, cohesion among family members in support of care, being (married/cohabiting) and monthly income ≥28 USD were associated with PSS-fa. Factors independently associated with PSS-fa were; female gender, financial contribution to cost of care and cohesion among family in support of care. Conclusion: social support from family was associated with good glycemic control. Factors associated with PSS-fa were; female gender, financial contribution from family to cost of care and cohesion among family in support of care.

The relationship between perceived social support from family and diabetes self-management among patients in Uganda.

Introduction: optimal self-care in diabetes mellitus contributes substantially to good glucose control and delays development of complications. The family´s support is an important predictor of optimal self-care behavior. Little is known about the relationship between social support from family and self-care behavior in Uganda. The study set out to determine the association between perceived social support from immediate family and diabetes self-management among diabetic patients in the eastern region of Uganda. Methods: this was a cross-sectional study among 405 adults attending diabetic outpatient clinics in Eastern Uganda between May 2021 and June 2021. Data of socio-demographic and clinical characteristics, perceived social support from family, and diabetes self-management were collected. Descriptive statistics were done and associations of socio-demographic and clinical characteristics, perceived social support from family with diabetes self-management were determined using Pearson Chi-square and Fisher´s exact tests. Results: the mean (SD) age was 52 (14.9) years, (60%) were female, majority (49.4%) were 45-64 years old. Perceived social support from family and optimum diabetes self-management were found in; (95.3%) and (87.4%) respectively. Perceived social support from family was associated with optimal diabetes self-management (p-value <0.001). Financial contribution from family members to cost of care and cohesion among family members in support of care were associated with optimal diabetes self-management both with a (p-value 0.001). Access to a functional glucometer was associated with optimal diabetes self-management (p-value <0.001). Conclusion: among patients in Eastern Uganda, self-management for diabetes control is significantly associated with perception of receipt of support from their families.