Self-care practices among adults living with diabetes mellitus in a selected village of the Vhembe, Limpopo Province

Abstract

Diabetes mellitus is a major public health issue, contributing to several fatalities annually, due to its possible severe complications. These complications frequently manifest as blindness, kidney disease, stroke, and lower limb amputation. The impact of diabetes in adults often depends on how effectively they manage this chronic condition, through self-care. The purpose of this study was to explore and describe self-care practices among adults living with diabetes mellitus, in a selected village of the Vhembe District, Limpopo Province. The theoretical framework used in this study was Orem’s Self-Care Deficit Nursing Theory. The study adopted a qualitative approach using the exploratory, descriptive, and contextual design to provide insight into the self-care practices adopted by adults living with diabetes mellitus. The target population consisted of adult women and men aged 25 to 64, and purposive sampling was adopted to select participants; the sample size comprised 11 participants, which was determined by having reached data saturation. Data was collected using face-to-face semi-structured interviews, guided by an interview guide and the collected data was analysed by using the six steps of thematic analysis. The study ensured trustworthiness through adopting measures such as dependability, credibility, conformability, and transferability. The findings of the study indicated that adults living with diabetes mellitus, generally, executed standard self-care practices, including medication use, physical activity, and diet management. The results, however, also highlighted knowledge gaps and poor adherence in certain aspects of these practices. Barriers and facilitators identified in the study significantly impacted participants’ self-care behaviours, hence, the researcher proposed recommendations based on these findings.