RESUMO
OBJECTIVE: This study was conducted to identify the level of awareness of a sample of Jamaicans to symptoms of diabetes mellitus. METHODS: Diabetes mellitus is a common medical condition in the Jamaican population, and early recognition of symptoms and early diagnosis of this disease leads to better prognosis. A questionnaire was administered by way of an interview in public areas in Montego Bay, Buff Bay, Port Antonio, and Spanish Town to determine the mean level of awareness about some of the early and later symptoms of diabetes mellitus. One hundred and twenty persons were selected, 60 diabetics and 60 non-diabetics (49 males and 71 females), 40 persons from each of the three parishes. Correct recognition of early symptoms of diabetes attracted more points than did the recognition of late symptoms of diabetes mellitus. The sources from which this information was acquired were also recorded. RESULTS: There was a significant difference between the mean level of awareness of the symptoms of diabetes mellitus between the diabetic and non-diabetic study population (p = 0.0005); the diabetics were more aware of the symptoms than the non-diabetics (p = 0.001). Female subjects were more aware than the males, (p = 0.002); there was no statistically significant difference in awareness between the younger and older subjects, nor among the samples chosen from the three parishes. CONCLUSION: There is scope for more public health education to improve the level of awareness of the Jamaican Populace to the symptoms of diabetes mellitus.(Au)
