Introduction diabetic complications have been identified as the major causes of morbidity and mortality in persons with type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM). Lack of appropriate glycaemic control is a significant risk factor for the onset and progression of long term complications of diabetes. Identifying the determinants of good glycaemic control is therefore imperative. Methods this was a cross-sectional, hospital-based study of children aged 3-18 years with T1DM. Subjects were consecutively enrolled after obtaining consent from their parents and assent from children aged ≥7 years. A questionnaire was completed recording their clinical history and sociodemographic variables. Their HbA1c was estimated and values ≤7.5% was defined as the cut-off for optimal glycaemic control. Results seventy-one children with T1DM were enrolled for the study. Thirty-eight (53.5%) of them were males. Mean age (years) was 13.7±4. Mean age at onset of diabetes was 11.6 years (range: 3-16 years), mean duration of diabetes was 24.4 months (range: 4-84 months), mean HbA1c value was 10.5% (range: 6.4%-14%); a multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed to identify determinants of optimal glycaemic control. Only caregivers' involvement in diabetes management P<0.016, odd ratio 13.03 (95% CI: 1.60-105.95) was identified as determinant of good glycaemic control. Conclusion our data suggest that of all the sociodemographic factors studied, caregivers' involvement in diabetes management was the only strong determinant for optimal glycaemic control.

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Introduction health insurance is in the fore front of health financing and achievement of universal health coverage for all. It provides a means of coping with some of the risks faced by individuals in achieving optimal healthcare. Women are vital in the family especially when it comes to the health of their children. We therefore set out in this study to assess the healthcare payment method of women in the informal sector and their awareness of the National health insurance scheme (NHIS) in Nigeria. Methods the study was a cross sectional descriptive survey involving women traders who were aged 18 years and above. Three hundred and fifty-three (353) womens were recruited using semi-structured interviewer questionnaire and data was analyzed using SPSS version 22. Results the prevalence of awareness of NHIS among the women was 57.5% and educational status was contributor to awareness of the scheme. Also, only 9.9% of the women were registered under the NHIS and out of pocket payment for healthcare was practiced by as much as 88.7% of the respondents. Most respondents had poor perception about the scheme with 60% believing that the government cannot be trusted to keep its end of the bargain with regards to the NHIS. Conclusion the need for awareness of the NHIS especially in the informal sector for women is brought to fore. The policy -makers should take into account how women in informal sectors should be captured to enrol in the NHIS in order to expand its coverage and this enrolment should be compulsory.