Prevalence of diabetes mellitus among children and adolescents in the district of Abidjan in Cote d'Ivoire: a population-based study

Background: World Health Organization has predicted a worldwide rise in the prevalence of diabetes mellitus. Cote d'Ivoire is not exempted as evidenced by such factors as obesity and sedentary life style amongst others. The objective of the study was to determine the prevalence of diabetes mellitus (DM) among children and adolescents in the district of Abidjan in Cote d'Ivoire.

Methods: A cross-sectional descriptive survey using a multi-stage sampling approach was conducted from March to April 2013. 1572 children and adolescents aged 02-19 years were surveyed in 687 randomly selected households in three municipalities. Capillary fasting glucose was performed in all subjects, and when abnormal was followed by an Oral Glucose Tolerance Test (OGTT). Definitions of Impaired Fasting Glucose (IFG) and DM (Diabetes Mellitus) were according to International Society for Paediatric and Adolescent Diabetes (ISPAD) Guidelines.

Results: The prevalence of DM and IFG were 0.4 % and 14.5 % respectively. There was no significant differences between patients with different glycemic status in terms of ethnicity/nationality (p = 0.98) or gender (0.079). In the rural areas, 565 (81.1 %) subjects were normoglycaemic and 132 (18.9 %) subjects hyperglycaemic while there were 773 (88.3 %) normoglycaemic subjects and 102 (11.7 %) hyperglycaemic subjects respectively from the urban areas of residence and this difference was statistically significant (p = 0.000). The prevalence of diabetes mellitus was identical (0.4 %) in the two age groups (2-9 years and 10-19 years). Seventy-seven (4.9 %) children who participated in the study had at least one diabetic parent. The proportion of participants with a diabetic father (59, 3.8. %) was twice the proportion with a diabetic mother (30,1.9 %) and this was statistically significant (p = 0.002). Only 10 out of 228 patients with IFG reported for the follow up OGTT and no impaired glucose tolerance was identified in these patients.

Conclusion: The prevalence rate of DM among children and adolescents was 0.4 %. Nationwide awareness campaigns and prevention programmes about diabetes in childhood should be instituted and existing ones strengthened. Adequate commitment from the relevant stakeholders especially the country's ministry of health is also advocated to stem this looming epidemic.