Challenges and Expectations on Diabetic Foot Care among Diabetic Patients Attending Diabetic Clinics in Zanzibar: A qualitative Study

Abstract

Background Diabetic foot ulcer is one the mutual difficulties of diabetic mellitus indorsed to a number of morbidity and mortality cases in diabetic patients. Nowadays, the occurrence of diabetic foot ulcer is amassed due to the increased prevalence of diabetes. Though, the challenges and expectations of the foot care among diabetic patients ‘are less studied in Zanzibar. Hereafter, this study was conducted to explore Challenges and Expectations of Diabetic Foot Care among Diabetic Patients Attending Diabetic Clinics in Zanzibar Methods A qualitative study with focused group discussion of 16 DFU patients, the discussed questions were arranged on views of foot care, current health practice and their expectations on DFU care and its prevention. The conversation was transcribed and thematically analyzed. Results Six themes were found after the transcription, which are Living experience with diabetic foot, challenges on foot diabetic care, expectations of support, recommendation for improvement, self-care practice and self-management strategies. Conclusion Patients expressed awareness in avoidance the existence of DFU so it is suggested that the effective health education on foot care and other crucial information concerning living with DM must be provided to patients as early as they have been diagnosed with Diabetic Mellitus.