Ammar Albourhi*, Fawzia Abdul Halim
Background: Type 1 diabetes is increasing by approximately 3% each year globally. Type 1 diabetes can manifest at any stage during the human life cycle, but particularly demanding when it present in a child. The diagnosis in a child can cause parental distress and anxiety, the effects of which can be long lasting. The diagnosis of a T1D affects not only the parents but the whole child family.
Objectives: To determine impacts on the family living with child having T1D.
Method: Cross sectional study conducted on 138 families in Sana’a city. Convenience sampling used to select parents of diabetic children aged 6-14 years. Structured questionnaire was completed using face to face interview.
Results: In the current study. Parents in relationship of to the participate to the child was father (49.2%), mother was (50.8%). The mean age of parents was 37 ± 10 years. Most of the parents were illiterate or had basic education. The mean age of parents at diagnosed of diabetes was (33 ± 10years). The diabetic children aged 6-14 years old. The mean age of the children was 11 ± 2.6 years. More than half of them were female. The majority of the children 92% in basic school level. Mean duration of diabetes was 4 ± 3 years. The greatest portions were diagnosed at age group 5-8 years. The mean age of diagnosed of diabetes was 7 ± 3.2 years. Diabetes duration was 1-4 years for most of the diabetic children. Most of families had one child with T1D.
Conclusion: Further studies on impact of T1D are needed. Protective health behavior education efforts are made to increase health care provider knowledge about T1D and promote family and T1D child life.