Perceived Risk of Diabetes (PRD) and Self-reported Diabetes (SRD) Risk Factors among University of Guyana Students

Aims: The purpose of this research was to assess Perceived Risk of Diabetes (PRD) and Self-reported Diabetes Risk Factors (SRDRF) among University of Guyana Students.

Study Design: Cross-sectional descriptive research.

Place and Duration of Study: University of Guyana, February-April 2019.

Methodology: The study had a total of 300 participants with 48.7% females and 51.3% males. Random blood sugar (RBS) was done to categorize participants in prediabetes and diabetic groups. Written informed consent was obtained from each participant and approval from the Institutional Review Board – Ministry of Public Health (Guyana).

Results and Discussion: Majority of participants were significantly of African descent 39.7% (n=119, P<0.001), followed by mixed ancestry 34.7% (n=104) and East Indian descent 22.0% (n=66). The study found 32% participants in no risk category among the entire participants, 31% no risk among the pre-diabetic population and 35% no risk among the diabetic population, moreover, a large majority of the participants are not worried for developing diabetes. The fact that a relatively high percentage of the sample has a low perception of the risk for developing diabetes must be of concern because the prevalence of this condition in the Guyanese population is estimated 9.1%.

Conclusion: This study showed that although there is a good level of knowledge that exist within the study population about the diabetes there is still need to improve and with the relatively high no risk perception for developing diabetes among the sample it is cause to worry given the severity of the disease and the preventive measures available.