Knowledge and performance on diabetes control among primary health workers: A baseline survey of quasi experimental study in Naypyitaw, Myanmar

Authors

Kyi Thar, College of Public Health Sciences, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand
Sathirakorn Pongpanich, College of Public Health Sciences, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, ThailandFollow
Min New Tun, Novo Nordisk Myanmar, Yangon, Myanmar
Zaw Myo Aung, Ministry of Health, Naypyitaw, Myanmar

Abstract

Background: Diabetes is a growing public health problem. Due to a paradigm shift in diabetes control from hospitals to communities, improving the knowledge and performance of primary health care (PHC) providers with regards to diabetes is essential. Although Myanmar has a high prevalence of diabetes, the knowledge and performance of PHC providers has not been properly assessed before. This study assessed PHC knowledge and performance on diabetes control in two townships in Naypyitaw, Myanmar.

Methods: In this cross-sessional descriptive study, PHC providers, including midwives, lady health visitors (female nurse supervisors), and public health supervisors were selected. Their socio-demographic variables, as well as knowledge and performance related to five domains of diabetes control were assessed.

Results: 100 PHC providers participated in the study. A majority of the respondents (54%) had average knowledge, while less (8%) had good knowledge. Most respondents had poor performance (63%). A significant correlation was observed between knowledge and performance scoring (p =0.01). The knowledge scoring was significantly associated with sex, designation (working rank level), and exposure to diabetes control training among participants. The performance scoring was associated with sex, designation, number of postings, level of facilities, exposure to diabetes training and campaigns.

Conclusion: Since majority of respondents had poor performance, the study recommended possible solutions to improve diabetes control including: revising targets and strategies for diabetes screening, designing tailored training to improve treatment and referral services, and piloting web-based tools to improve diabetes knowledges and a diabetes registry during the post COVID-19 pandemic health system recovery.

Keywords: Diabetes control, Primary health care, Web-based application

Recommended Citation

Thar K, Pongpanich S, Tun M, Aung Z. Knowledge and performance on diabetes control among primary health workers: A baseline survey of quasi experimental study in Naypyitaw, Myanmar. J Health Res. 2024; 38(1):1-10. DOI: https://doi.org/10.56808/2586-940X.1054

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