Abstract:

Background: One of the greatest challenges in dealing with type 2 diabetes mellitus is delayed diabetes diagnosis which deprives the chance for both the patient and the health care worker to prevent diabetic complications which are the most common cause of morbidity and mortality in diabetic patients. Type 2 diabetes is often diagnosed late due to less severe symptoms compared to Type 1 diabetes. However typical symptoms are rarely inquired by physicians and are rarely reported by patients therefore type 2 diabetes is often diagnosed late when chronic complications have already developed. Hence the aim of this study is to highlight the magnitude of delayed diagnosis and its associated factors in Mwanza which will inform on strategies to implement in order to reduce delayed diagnosis of diabetes among adults.

Methodology: A cross-section hospital-based study was conducted in outpatient adult patients who were attending Diabetic clinics in Mwanza from January 2023 to May 2023. Random sampling was used to recruit participants. Participants were interviewed by using semi-structured questionnaires.

Results: A total of 123 were enrolled in a study. Of them, 93(75.6%) had delayed diabetes diagnosis. Factors associated with this delay included primary level of education (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] =5.2, 95% CI= 0.392-70.066 ), Not attending diabetes screening before diagnosis(AOR =, 95% CI = 0.392-70.066), No family history of diabetes (AOR = 0.0291.52, 95% CI = 0.001-0.672), and use of alternative methods of treatment for symptoms(AOR = 6.61, CI = (1.257-34.761)