Assessing Knowledge of Hypertension and Diabetes Mellitus among Informal Healthcare Providers in Urban Slums in Southeastern Nigeria

Informal healthcare providers (IHPs) often serve as the first point of contact for healthcare services for non-communicable diseases in urban slums. Therefore, their ability to identify risk factors and symptoms of the diseases is crucial for early detection and management. As part of the CHORUS project on exploring health system linkages between the public and informal sectors to improve access to appropriate health services, the team in the University of Nigeria (Health Policy Research Group) conducted a cross-sectional survey in eight slums in Enugu and Onitsha cities to assess the level of knowledge of hypertension and diabetes mellitus among IHPs.

The findings reveal that the level of knowledge of the risk factors and symptoms of both hypertension and diabetes mellitus among informal healthcare providers is inadequate. This inadequate knowledge has implications for the urban slum populations they serve.

Training and education to address the knowledge gaps is an important step towards improving the early detection and management of such NCDs, and ultimately improve health and wellbeing. Informal healthcare providers who had undergone training exhibited significantly higher levels of knowledge. Such interventions can be integrated into urban renewal programmes that prioritise access to basic services.

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Assessing Knowledge of Hypertension and Diabetes Mellitus among Informal Healthcare Providers in Urban Slums in Southeastern Nigeria

Mbachu, C.O., Arize, I., Obi, C. et al. Discov Public Health 21, 21 (2024).