ISSN: 2578-4994
Authors: Okebugwu J and Aniramu O*
Diabetes Mellitus is a lingering metabolic disease considered as a germane public health issue in Nigeria. The study identified socio-demographic features of diabetes prevalence and their spatial distribution patterns aimed at devising future prevention against diabetic risks in the study area. This study considered GIS application in the spatial assessment of diabetes prevalence in Ile-Ife, Nigeria. One hundred and eighty-three copies of questionnaire were administered to obtained information on patients’ socio-demographic data and healthcare facilities accessibility; respondents’ outcomes were subjected to descriptive and chi-square test at significance p<0.05. The findings of the socio-demographic characteristics of diabetes patients revealed a significant difference in ethnicity (X2=17.468), education (X2=33.790) across the wards in each LGA; patients above 40years accounted for 72.4% and 71.8% cases in the study area. Findings shown the ratio of Female to Male were 65.5% to 34.5% of diabetes prevalence; accessibility buffer map shows that patient come from afar (30km) for treatment whereas facilities are more accessible to patients’ with 5km zone. Results revealed that Sabo/Ilare (29.31%) and Okerewe 1 (34.4%) accounted for extreme patient’s concentration Ife Central and Ife East respectively. The prevalence of diabetes is relatively high in Ile-Ife Metropolis considering the variation of cases in the wards examined. Accessibility to healthcare facilities by some patients is cumbersome as medical facilities are unavailable in rural area of the study. A record of diabetes prevalence has necessitated the need for improved health services in the study area and intensifies awareness programmers as future control measures of diabetes disease.
Keywords: Health; Diabetes; Spatial; People; Diseases; Patients
