The Journal of the Egyptian Public Health Association
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J Egypt Public Health Assoc · Jan 2005
Psychosocial characteristics of diabetic students at Sporting Students Hospital in Alexandria.
Type 1 diabetes mellitus is a chronic disease that may have an impact on children's psychosocial adjustment. The aim of the present work was to study the psychosocial characteristics of diabetic students and to determine predictors of diabetes control. A cross-sectional study of 150 diabetic students who attended the diabetic school health insurance clinic of Sporting Student's Hospital in Alexandria governorate within a period of one month was conducted. ⋯ However after adjustment for other variables, students of low social class families (OR=5.1, p<0.01) and those of longer disease duration (6-10 years) (OR=7.9, p<0.05) were significant predictors of diabetes control. In conclusion diabetes per se might have no significant association with academic performance or social relationship. Students with large diabetic duration-especially those of low social class families--are at increased risk of suboptimal glycaemic control and should be targeted for interventional strategies.