Diabetic retinopathy awareness and eye care behaviour of indigenous women in Saskatoon, Canada

ABSTRACT

Diabetes is a public health challenge in Canada with a disproportionate number of Indigenous people, especially women, living with diabetes. Diabetic retinopathy is a diabetes ocular complication and a common cause of blindness in Canadian adults. Many individuals living with diabetes do not have regular diabetic eye screening. This study sought to determine the diabetic retinopathy awareness and eye care behaviour of Indigenous women with diabetes or at risk of diabetes. This was a quantitative study among 78 Indigenous women (First Nations and Métis) in Saskatoon, Canada. Data on diabetic retinopathy awareness and eye care behaviour were collected via a knowledge, attitude, and practice survey. Participants had high diabetic retinopathy practice mean scores (32.16) than knowledge (30.16) and attitude scores (22.56). Sub-group analysis showed a significant difference in knowledge scores between age, education, and diabetes status, and differences in practice scores between age and education. Although our regression analysis indicated an association between education and knowledge scores (p = 0.024), and diabetes status and attitude scores (p = 0.044), the associations are not conclusive. Indigenous peoples with or at risk of diabetes may benefit from targeted interventions on diabetes and eye care, which could improve eye care awareness and behaviour.

KEYWORDS:

• Behaviour
• eye care
• diabetes
• diabetic retinopathy
• indigenous health
• awareness

Acknowledgments

We acknowledge Saskatoon Indian and Metis Friendship Centre and LiveWell Aim 4 Health Chronic Disease Management Saskatchewan Health Authority for their contribution towards recruitment of participants and implementation of the study.

Authorship statement

VU and KP contributed to the research, analysis, and development of the article, and grant permission for the final version to be published.

Disclaimer

The views expressed in the submitted article are the authors and not an official position of the institution.

Disclosure statement

The authors report no conflict of interest

Ethics

The Research Ethics Board of the University of Saskatchewan provided ethical approval [BEH#:16-437]

Additional information

Funding

There is no source of funding.