Indian Journal of Health and Wellbeing

Open Access Open Access  Restricted Access Subscription Access
Open Access Open Access Open Access  Restricted Access Restricted Access Subscription Access

Conceptual Complexity in Children's Understanding of Diabetes


Affiliations
1 Centre for Health Psychology University of Hyderabad Hyderabad, Telangana, India
2 Centre for Health Psychology, University of Hyderabad Hyderabad, Telangana, India
3 School of Computer and Information Sciences, University of Hyderabad, Hyderabad, Telangana, India
     

   Subscribe/Renew Journal


Diabetes is one of the highly prevalent non communicable diseases (NCD) that has invaded both developed and developing countries. The WHO projections for the world as well as specific countries are highly alarming. Interventions consequent upon these projections must target children who constitute vulnerable population for the projected year. The first stepping stone towards such intervention is to measure the existing knowledge about the disease in children. The present study combined the qualitative and quantitative methods in exploring children's concept of diabetes. A sample of 548 children from three schools studying in class VI through X were administered an open ended question to get data on children's understanding of the concept of diabetes. The data were analyzed qualitatively and quantitatively. The content analyses identified five broad themes, viz., the definition, causes, symptoms, consequences and management of diabetes. Responses indicating misconceptions were grouped separately. Anew method of measuring the complexity of the concept was used. The response divergence indicating explanation of the disease across the themes was measured by computing 'Entropy values' using a formula. The response divergence or conceptual complexity was measured for each class. Results indicated a sudden spurt in conceptual complexity in class X. Results also indicated a dismally low level of knowledge about diabetes and large number of misconceptions. Low levels of knowledge and huge misconceptions warrant public health measures through awareness programmes in campaignmode.

Keywords

Concept Development, Concept of Diabetes, Children's Knowledge, Entropy, Conceptual Complexity.
Subscription Login to verify subscription
User
Notifications
Font Size


  • Ade, A., Chethana, K. V., Mane, A., & Hiremath, S. G. (2014). Noncommunicable diseases: Awareness of risk factors and lifestyle among rural adolescents. International Journal of Biological and Medical Research, 5{),3169-311.

  • Al-Mahrooqi, B., Al-Hadhrami, R., Al-Amri, A., Al-Tamimi, S., Al- Shidhani, A., Al-Lawati, H., & Al-Ghalfi, T. (2013). Self-reported knowledge of diabetes among high school students in Al-Amerat and Quriyat, Muscat Govemate, Oman. Sultan Qaboos University Medical Journal 13(3), 392-398.

  • Al-Hussaini, M., & Mustafa, S. (2016). Adolescents knowledge and awareness of diabetes mellitus in Kuwait. Alexandria Journal of Medicine, 52(1), 61-66.

  • Campbell, J.D. (1975). Illness is a point of view: The development of childrens concept of'illness. Childrens Development, 46,92-100.

  • Chaudhari, A. I., Rami, K., & Thakor, N. (2016). Assessment of knowledge regarding non-communicable diseases and their risk factors among students of higher secondary school: An interventional study. International Journal of Medical Sciences and Public Health, 5,115-118.

  • Diabetes Atlas (2015). Diabetes B-urden in India. Retrieved Ifom http://www.diabetesatlas.org/resources/2015-atlas.html

  • Divakaran, B., Muttapillymyalil, J., Sreedharan, J., & Shalini, K. (2010). Lifestyle risk factors of non-communicable diseases: Awareness among school children. Indian .Journal of Cancer, 47(5), 9.

  • Global Status Report onNCDs -2014. World Health Organization.

  • Myant, K. A., & Williams, J. M. (2005). Children's concepts of health and illness: Understanding of contagious illnesses, non-contagious illnesses and injuries. Journal of Health Psychology, 10(6), 805-819.

  • Natapoff, J. N. (1982). A developmental analysis of*children's ideas of'health. Health Education Quarterly, 9(2-3), 34-45.

  • Okoh, B. A. N., & Jaja, T. (2014). Knowledge and awareness of diabetes among adolescents in Port Harcourt, Nigeria. .African .Journal of Diabetes Medicine, 22(2), 18-20.

  • Piko, B. F., & Bak, J. (2006). Children's perceptions of health and illness: images and lay concepts in preadolescence. Health Education Research, 27(5), 643-653.

  • Safari, M., Dalilhoush, N., Abbaslou, P., Abbaszadehzouri, N., Torabi, R., Al Sharbati, S., Ibrahim, Y. (2013). Assessment of diabetes knowledge among adolescents in selected Iranian schools in UAE. Gulf Medical Journal,2(S2),S11-S17.

  • Sigelman, C., Maddock, A., Epstein, J., & Carpenter, W. (1993). Age differences in understandings of disease causality: AIDS, colds, and cancer. Child Development, 64(1), 272-284.

  • Williams, J. M., & Binnie, L. M. (2002). Children's concepts ofillness: An intervention to improve knowledge. British Journal of Health Psychology, 7,129-147.


Abstract Views: 228

PDF Views: 0




  • Conceptual Complexity in Children's Understanding of Diabetes

Abstract Views: 228  |  PDF Views: 0

Authors

Meera Padhy
Centre for Health Psychology University of Hyderabad Hyderabad, Telangana, India
R. Lalnuntluangi
Centre for Health Psychology, University of Hyderabad Hyderabad, Telangana, India
Kavya Chelli
Centre for Health Psychology, University of Hyderabad Hyderabad, Telangana, India
Meena Hariharan
Centre for Health Psychology University of Hyderabad Hyderabad, Telangana, India
C. Raghavendra Rao
School of Computer and Information Sciences, University of Hyderabad, Hyderabad, Telangana, India

Abstract


Diabetes is one of the highly prevalent non communicable diseases (NCD) that has invaded both developed and developing countries. The WHO projections for the world as well as specific countries are highly alarming. Interventions consequent upon these projections must target children who constitute vulnerable population for the projected year. The first stepping stone towards such intervention is to measure the existing knowledge about the disease in children. The present study combined the qualitative and quantitative methods in exploring children's concept of diabetes. A sample of 548 children from three schools studying in class VI through X were administered an open ended question to get data on children's understanding of the concept of diabetes. The data were analyzed qualitatively and quantitatively. The content analyses identified five broad themes, viz., the definition, causes, symptoms, consequences and management of diabetes. Responses indicating misconceptions were grouped separately. Anew method of measuring the complexity of the concept was used. The response divergence indicating explanation of the disease across the themes was measured by computing 'Entropy values' using a formula. The response divergence or conceptual complexity was measured for each class. Results indicated a sudden spurt in conceptual complexity in class X. Results also indicated a dismally low level of knowledge about diabetes and large number of misconceptions. Low levels of knowledge and huge misconceptions warrant public health measures through awareness programmes in campaignmode.

Keywords


Concept Development, Concept of Diabetes, Children's Knowledge, Entropy, Conceptual Complexity.

References