Table 3.
Behavioral characteristics of DFU patients in selected referral hospitals in Uganda, November 2021 to January 2022 (n = 117)
| Variables | Early (G1&G2):n(%) | Late (G3, G4, &G5): n (%) | Total n (%) |
p-value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Taught About complications of DM | 0.274 | |||
| No | 20 (42.6) | 37 (52.9) | 57 (48.7) | |
| Yes | 27 (57.4) | 33 (47.1) | 60 (51.3) | |
| Counselled about risk of DFU when you have DM | 0.411 | |||
| No | 14 (29.8) | 26 (37.1) | 40 (34.2) | |
| Yes | 33 (70.2) | 44 (62.9) | 77 (65.8) | |
| Counselled by a friend | 0.707 | |||
| No | 31 (66.0) | 41 (58.6) | 72 (61.5) | |
| Yes | 16 (4.3) | 29 (51.4) | 45 (38.5) | |
| Counselled by a healthcare worker | 0.480 | |||
| No | 30 (63.8) | 37 (52.9) | 67 (57.3) | |
| Yes | 17(6.4) | 33 (47.1) | 50 (42.7) | |
| Counselled by social media | 0.707 | |||
| No | 31 (66.0) | 41 (58.6) | 72 (61.5) | |
| Yes | 16 (34.1) | 29 (41.4) | 45 (39.0) | |
| Frequency of DM clinic attendance | 0.577 | |||
| Never | 13 (27.7) | 25 (35.7) | 38 (32.5) | |
| Once a month | 22 (46.8) | 28 (40.0) | 50 (42.7) | |
| Every 2 months | 7 (14.9) | 13 (18.6) | 20 (17.1) | |
| Once yearly | 5 (10.6) | 4 (5.7) | 9 (7.7) | |
| Smoking status | 0.040 | |||
| Non smoker | 44 (93.6) | 56 (80.0) | 100 (85.5) | |
| Ever smoked | 3 (6.4) | 14 (20.0) | 17 (14.5) | |
| Alcohol consumer | 0.512 | |||
| No | 38 (80.9) | 53 (75.7) | 91 (77.8) | |
| Yes | 9 (19.1) | 17 (24.3) | 26 (22.2) | |
| Foot care score | 0.464 | |||
| 1 | 12 (25.5) | 25 (35.7) | 37 (31.6) | |
| 2 | 5 (10.6) | 5 (7.1) | 10 (8.5) | |
| 3 | 30 (63.8) | 40 (57.1) | 70 (59.8) | |
| Type of shoes worn | 0.908 | |||
| Open shoes | 30 (63.8) | 47 (67.1) | 77 (65.8) | |
| Any type of shoes | 12 (25.5) | 17 (24.3) | 29 (24.8) | |
| Don’t wear shoes | 5 (10.6) | 6 (8.6) | 11 (9.4) | |
| How often nails are cut since DM diagnosed | 0.791 | |||
| Always | 14 (29.8) | 22 (31.4) | 36 (30.8) | |
| Occasionally | 32 (68.1) | 45 (64.3) | 77 (65.8) | |
| Don’t | 1 (2.1) | 3 (4.3) | 4 (3.4) | |
| Individual who cuts the toenails | 0.762 | |||
| Self | 30 (63.8) | 46 (65.7) | 76 (65.0) | |
| Other people | 17 (36.1) | 24 (34.3) | 41 (35.0) | |
| What do you use to cut your nails (multiple answers) | ||||
| Nail cutter | 0.329 | |||
| No | 33 (70.2) | 43 (61.4) | 76 (65.0) | |
| Yes | 14 (29.8) | 27 (38.6) | 41 (35.0) | |
| Razor blade | 0.152 | |||
| No | 14 (29.8) | 30 (42.9) | 44 (37.6) | |
| Yes | 33 (70.2) | 40 (57.1) | 73 (62.4) | |
| Knife | 0.807 | |||
| No | 46 (97.9) | 68 (97.1) | 114 (97.4) | |
| Yes | 1 (2.1) | 2 (2.9) | 3 (2.6) | |
| Frequency of exercise | 0.529 | |||
| Always | 8 (17.0) | 14 (20.0) | 22 (18.8) | |
| Occasionally | 27 (57.4) | 39 (55.7) | 66 (56.4) | |
| Never | 12 (25.5) | 17 (24.3) | 29 (24.8) | |
| Work in the garden | 0.921 | |||
| No | 27 (57.4) | 37 (52.9) | 64 (54.7) | |
| Yes | 20 (42.6) | 33 (47.1) | 53 (45.3) | |
| Walk at least 30 min a day | 0.625 | |||
| No | 25 (53.2) | 47 (67.1) | 72 (61.5) | |
| Yes | 22 (46.8) | 23 (32.9) | 45 (38.5) | |
| Housework | 0.128 | |||
| No | 38 (80.9) | 56 (80.0) | 94 (80.3) | |
| Yes | 9 (19.1) | 14 (20.0) | 23 (19.7) | |
| Jogging | 0.910 | |||
| No | 40 (85.1) | 67 (95.7) | 107 (91.5) | |
| Yes | 7 (14.9) | 3 (4.3) | 10 (8.5) | |
| No exercise | 0.044 | |||
| No | 36 (76.6) | 57 (81.4) | 93 (79.5) | |
| Yes | 11 (23.4) | 13 (18.6) | 24 (20.5) | |
| Diet (how often food eaten:) | ||||
| Vegetables | 0.103 | |||
| Daily | 26(0.2) | 32(0.3) | 58(0.5) | |
| Usually | 4(0.03) | 1(0.01) | 5(0.04) | |
| Occasionally | 2(0.02) | 8(0.1) | 10(0.1) | |
| Rarely | 15(0.1) | 29(0.2) | 44(0.4) | |
| Fruits | 0.924 | |||
| Daily | 21(0.2) | 30(0.3) | 51(0.4) | |
| Usually | 1(0.01) | 1(0.01) | 2(0.02) | |
| Occasionally | 6(0.1) | 7(0.1) | 13(0.1) | |
| Rarely | 19(0.2) | 32(0.3) | 51(0.4) | |
| Fatty food | 0.492 | |||
| Daily | 26(0.2) | 39(0.3) | 65(0.6) | |
| Usually | 1(0.01) | 6(0.1) | 7(0.1) | |
| Occasionally | 9(0.1) | 10(0.1) | 19(0.2) | |
| Rarely | 11(0.1) | 15(0.1) | 26(0.2) | |
| Proteins | 0.215 | |||
| Daily | 30(0.3) | 47(0.4) | 77(0.7) | |
| Usually | 1(0.01) | 6(0.1) | 7(0.1) | |
| Occasionally | 8(0.1) | 5(0.04) | 13(0.1) | |
| Rarely | 8(0.1) | 12(0.1) | 20(0.2) | |
| Carbohydrates | 0.209 | |||
| Daily | 33(0.3) | 56(0.5) | 89(0.8) | |
| Usually | 4(0.03) | 3(0.03) | 7(0.1) | |
| Occasionally | 4(0.03) | 1(0.01) | 5(0.04) | |
| Rarely | 6(0.1) | 10(0.1) | 16(0.1) |