| dc.description.abstract | Diabetes is a chronic disease that results from the body’s inability to regulate the blood sugar levels and if left unchecked leads to serious body damage and interruption of body processes. Among the many pathological conditions resulting from diabetes is the interruption of the wound healing process leading to prolonged inflammation and disruption in the process of angiogenesis. According to the International Diabetes Federation (IDF), 537 million people are currently living with diabetes with 3 in 4 adults living in low- and middle-income countries. In the USA for example, according to CDC, 38.4 million people have been diagnosed with diabetes with 1.8 million being affected by diabetic foot ulcers, and similar trends are seen in other continents as well, including Sub- Saharan Africa where an estimated 24 million with the biggest challenge being a large number living undiagnosed cases people are living with diabetes. In Kenya, the current prevalence rate is 35% of its adult population and non-communicable diseases contribute to 284,000 deaths and diabetes causing approximately 10000 of them as a result of its complications including poor wound healing. The aim of this study was to find out the factors affecting the wound healing among diabetic patients and with the results, how they can be best addressed. A cross sectional descriptive study was done at Kisumu County and Referral, both male and female surgical wards on diabetic patients with wounds. The research instrument to be used is a pre- tested questionnaire (having both closed and open-ended questions). All the nurses understood that diabetes ad an effect on wound healing but there was a below average score on wound management with a score of 50.6% and 53.6% on wound assessment on patients with diabetes. All the 17 patients consented to receiving a diabetic diet, on food quality, 11- adequate and moderate quality, 6- inadequate and poor quality. 10 patients were on insulin, while 7 on oral diabetic drugs and reported that sugars were only monitored twice daily and drugs administered only twice daily. On socioeconomic factors, 12 were aged 30- 50 years, 4, between 50-80 years and 1 above 80. 14 reported having challenges accessing health care. 16 reported ability to access diabetic diet with 9 reporting inconsistency and having to resort to normal diet, 13 of the patients reporting to be earning less than ksh 30, 000, while, 4 earning above 30, 000. In conclusion, poor nurses’ knowledge on management of diabetic patients with wounds, poor diet/nutrition factors and poor socioeconomic factors contributed to the status of the situation that prompted theresearcher to do the research | en_US |
