SELF-CARE KNOWLEDGE, BEHAVIORAL PRACTICES, AND PREVENTIVE STRATEGIES FOR DIABETIC FOOT ULCERS AMONG INDIVIDUALS WITH DIABETES IN TERTIARY HOSPITALS IN NIGERIA: A CROSS-SECTIONAL STUDY

Introduction: The increasing prevalence of diabetes is a global public health concern, with foot ulcer prevention techniques, low self-care knowledge, and a lack of confidence contributing to complications like foot ulcers. Methods: This cross-sectional study, conducted between January and December 2022, evaluated foot self-care knowledge, self-efficacy, and self-care behaviors among individuals with diabetes attending public tertiary hospitals in Abeokuta, Nigeria. Data from randomly selected 120 out-patients was collected using a multidimensional questionnaire, and multiple regression analysis was used to assess associations between variables. Results: It was found that participants’ mean age was 44.8±14.65 years. Majority (58.3%) of them did not attend foot self-care education classes and had received a type-2 diabetes diagnosis within the previous 24 months. Many of the patients had low knowledge of foot self-care (55%), low self-care efficacy (55%) and poor self-care behavior (55%). Poor self-care behavior was predicted by low efficaciousness (p