The Influence of Socio-Demographical Variables on Type 2 Diabetes Self-Management among Black Africans in Liverpool

The aim of the study is to analyse the influence of socio-demographical variables on type 2 diabetes self-management among black Africans in Liverpool, England. The study adopted the descriptive survey research design of the ex-post facto type. A self-developed questionnaire with four sub-sections was used to collect data. Data was analysed using simple percentages and frequency counts for demographic information about the respondents, while research questions were tested using chi-square analysis. Thirty Black Africans ages forty to seventy-nine living in Liverpool participated in the study. The results show that out of the six socio-demographical variables considered only four (Age, Marital status, factors contributing, Year of diagnosis, and level of education) significantly had potential to influence the self-management of patients with type 2 diabetes. The average age of participants was sixty. Five participants were in their forties, eight participants were in their fifties, ten participants were in their sixties, seven participants were in their seventies. Six of the participants were married, four were widowed, five were divorced, three were separated, and two never married. Diagnosis of diabetes ranged from three months to thirty years and above. The level of education of the participants range between (46.7 %) Diploma certificates holders in various disciplines, (26.7 %) GCSE certificate holders and (26.6 %) hold at least a first-degree certificate. All of the participants have had a diabetes self-management health talk in one way or the other at least once since being diagnosed. It is therefore concluded that health education as a means of assisting individuals, acting separately or collectively, to make informed decisions about matters affecting their personal health and those of others must be ensured.