By Joseph Odoi and Francis Xavier Kasujja
Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM) is among the leading causes of mortality and ill-health worldwide, accounting for over one million deaths. In Uganda alone, a steady increase in the number of diabetes cases has been observed.
Despite the increasing burden of diabetes in the country, little is known about the socio-cultural norms influencing type 2 diabetes risk behaviours, especially in rural areas to inform action.
Moved by the plight to contribute to this cause, Makerere University researchers have embarked on a study to gather evidence to bridge this gap. The researchers broke the news to a section of stakeholders at a December 4th 2020 dialogue held at Grand Global Hotel in Kampala.
The study will be carried out to understand the patterns of socio-cultural norms influencing risk behaviour in two high incidence districts namely, Busia and Bugiri, in Eastern Uganda.
Funded by Makerere University Research and Innovation Fund, the project aims at establishing community-led social labs which will lead to the development of social innovations that contribute to addressing negative social norms.
Titled; “Socio-cultural norms influencing Type 2 Diabetes risks Behaviours – an exploratory to intervention co-design innovative study in two high incidence districts of eastern Uganda”, the study is led by Dr. Juliet Kiguli, a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Community Health and Behavioural Sciences at MakSPH.
“There is very little evidence on the deep-rooted social constructs around type 2 diabetes risk behaviours,” says Dr. Kiguli.
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