FACTORS CONTRIBUTING TO NON-ADHERENCE TO DIETARY RECOMMENDATIONS AMONG DIABETIC PATIENTS ATTENDING KAPSABET COUNTY REFERRAL HOSPITAL, KENYA

Abstract

Diabetes is a chronic condition that requires adherence to dietary recommendations for effective

management. However, studies have shown that many diabetic patients struggle to adhere to

these recommendations, leading to poor health outcomes. This study presents the findings

of a study conducted at Kapsabet County Referral Hospital in Kenya to explore the factors

contributing to non-adherence to dietary recommendations among diabetic patients. The study was

a cross-sectional analytical study which targeted type 2 diabetics attending outpatient clinic at

Kapsabet County Referral Hospital. Researcher administered questionnaires to 138 selected

patients for the study. The data was be coded, cleaned and analyzed using SPPS Scientific

software. Permission was sought from SERC and NACOSTI (Ref no. NACOSTI/P/23/24350),

County Commissioner (NC.EDU/4/3/VOL.11/ (22) and County Director of Education

(NDI/CDE/RESEARCH/1/VOL.111/75). The results from the study indicates that demographic

attributes of the participants played a significant role in predicting their adherence to dietary

practices (B0=1.634, P<0.001). The Adherence to dietary practices was shown to be strongly

impacted by age (B1=0.359). Further findings presented a positive association between the level

of education and the adherence to dietary practices (B3=0.620). More importantly correlation was

noted between individual’s level of income and their likelihood of adhering to dietary practices

(B6=0.611). There was a higher likelihood for patients with higher incomes to pursue accurate

dietary information and adhere to it compared to patients with lower incomes. The results

highlighted a range of factors influencing dietary adherence, including lack of knowledge,

financial constraints, cultural beliefs, and social support. In conclusion, healthcare providers are

expected to take these factors into consideration when developing interventions to help diabetic

patients better manage their condition through diet. The results indicate that non-adherence to

recommended dietary recommendation is not satisfactory hence addressing the reality of how

patients with T2DM in Nandi eat in their daily lives and enhanced nutrition education would enable

them adhere to medical nutrition therapy.