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Diabetes in Sub-Saharan African Children: Risks, Care, and Challenges

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Handbook of Applied Developmental Science in Sub-Saharan Africa

Abstract

As of 2012, there were 15 million adults and 36,000 children living with diabetes mellitus in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). It is estimated that 12 million people in SSA live with undiagnosed diabetes. The incidence of diabetes varies from country to country; 0.3 per 1000 in Nigeria to 10 per 100,000 in Sudan. These epidemiological data may not reflect a true picture of the prevalence of diabetes especially among children since such data are often non-existent in most countries due to lack of research and resources. Common acute complications of diabetes in SSA include ketoacidosis, hyperosmolar non-ketotic coma, and hypoglycemia. Chronic complications include retinopathy, glaucoma, nephropathy, and neuropathy. In addition, many children suffer from neuro-cognitive and psychosocial problems. Early onset and duration of the illness and recurrent hypoglycemia episodes are major factors leading to neuro-cognitive and psychosocial problems in children. Children with diabetes tend to show adjustment problems, report depression, anxiety, and poor quality of life. Apart from suffering from diabetes, some children have comorbid HIV and AIDS and eye diseases, among others. Few studies document mortality rates of children in SSA, however, life expectancy of children with diabetes is on average five years. In WHO member African countries, it is estimated that US$ 1,154.15 per diabetes patient was spent per year. Despite the huge costs associated with diabetes, most essential diabetes commodities, equipment and personnel are still lacking in most countries. In conclusion, diabetes among children in SSA is still a big challenge. More effort by different stakeholders is required to make prevention programs, management, and care of diabetes better by improving resources and implementation of health services. In all these processes, traditional healers and technologies must be incorporated.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychology, University of Zambia, Lusaka, Zambia

    Given Hapunda

  2. Department of Psychology, South Danish University, Odense, Denmark

    Frans Pouwer

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Correspondence to Given Hapunda .

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  1. Department of Culture Studies, Tilburg University, Tilburg, The Netherlands

    Amina Abubakar

  2. Department of Culture Studies, Tilburg University, Tilburg, The Netherlands

    Fons J.R. van de Vijver

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Hapunda, G., Pouwer, F. (2017). Diabetes in Sub-Saharan African Children: Risks, Care, and Challenges. In: Abubakar, A., van de Vijver, F. (eds) Handbook of Applied Developmental Science in Sub-Saharan Africa. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4939-7328-6_9

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