Community perceptions of type 2 diabetes causes, symptoms, complications, prevention, and management among market vendors in Butembo, DR Congo: A descriptive cross-sectional study.

内容摘要

Diabetes mellitus is an important public health challenge worldwide, particularly in low-resource settings where health literacy may be limited. This study assessed perceptions regarding the causes, symptoms, complications, and prevention of diabetes among adult market vendors in Butembo, Democratic Republic of Congo. A descriptive cross-sectional survey was conducted between March and April 2025 among adult market vendors recruited from seven major markets in Butembo, Democratic Republic of Congo. Data were collected using a pre-tested structured questionnaire administered face-to-face in French or Swahili using KoboCollect software and analyzed using descriptive statistics in IBM SPSS version 20. A total of 433 adults participated in the study. Among them, 334 (77.1%) reported having previously heard of diabetes and were included in the perception analyses. Commonly perceived signs of diabetes included weight loss (64.4%) and chronic fatigue (49.4%). High blood pressure (50.3%) and death (48.5%) were frequently perceived as complications. Healthy diet (49.1%) and regular exercise (37.4%) were commonly identified as preventive measures; however, some respondents also reported spiritual or cultural beliefs such as prayer (28.4%) and poisoning-related beliefs. Most respondents (73.7%) reported knowing someone with diabetes, while 52.1% stated that consulting a doctor would be the preferred response if diabetes was suspected. Participants demonstrated mixed perceptions regarding diabetes, combining biomedical explanations with cultural and spiritual beliefs. These findings highlight the importance of culturally adapted community health education interventions in Butembo.