Abstract

Aragaw Zemene* and Gebrekidan Welegerima

ABSTRACT

Diabetes mellitus is recognized as one of the emerging public health problems in developing countries. However, its magnitude has not been studied at community levels, making the provision of appropriate services difficult in such countries. Hence, this study aimed to assess the prevalence of diabetes in Adigrat Town, Northern Ethiopia. Recorded data of diabetics’ patients (secondary data) of the year 2005, 2006, and 2007 E.C were collected from Adigrat Hospital and the collected data was analyzed using Microsoft Excel 2010 and presented in the form of tables and percentages. In this study, among the three consecutive years, highest prevalence rate of diabetes in males was recorded in the year 2005 E.C (53.86%) followed by 2006 E.C (52.45%) and 2007 E.C (50 %). Contrary, the highest prevalence rate of diabetes in females was observed in the year 2007 E.C (50 %) followed by the year 2006 E.C (47.54 %) and 2005 E.C (47.14 %), respectively. Moreover, the highest prevalence rate of diabetes in males, which was observed in the age group of greater than 15, was recorded in the year 2007 E.C (97.5 %) where as the highest prevalence rate of diabetes in females, which is observed in the age group of greater than 15, was recorded in the year 2005 E.C (96.3 %). The present study reveals considerably high prevalence rate of diabetes. Thus, to minimize the prevalence rate of diabetes in the study area, appropriate actions need to be taken.