Betelhem Wondyfraw, Damte Shimelis, Sewagegn Yeshiwas
Background: Type I diabetes mellitus affects the quality of life of children. Measuring the quality of life of such patients would be important for evaluating treatment outcomes and decision making.
Objective: the aim of this study is to assess the quality of life of children with type I diabetes mellitus attending the pediatric endocrine clinic of a tertiary hospital.
Patients and Methods: This study is a hospital-based descriptive cross-sectional study conducted between April 31 and July 1, 2019. Data were collected from patients and their guardians using the Pediatrics Quality of Life (PedsQL) 4.0 generic core scales and Pediatrics Quality of Life (PedsQL) 3.2 diabetes module. Data were statistically analyzed using the SPSS package. Results described in tables and discussed.
Result: Out of 237 children 120 (50.6%) were females and the age range was between 5-17 years with a mean age of 11.3 years. The age of children at initial diagnosis ranges from 3 months to 15 years with a mean age of 5.11 years. Low family income [AOR 3.05(CI=1.34-6.95)], diagnosis of diabetes less than 1 year [AOR 1.96(CI=1.13-3.39)] and High HgA1C level (≥ 8) [AOR 2.1(CI= 1.01-4.40] have association with poor quality of life.
Conclusion: Type I DM affects the quality of life of children. Assessment is important for further intervention and planning.