Obstacles of optimum care for diabetic children in Palestine
Date
2008-11-16
Authors
Dr. Intisar Alem
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Abstract
<p>Type 1 diabetes is one of the most frequent chronic diseases in childhood. According to PalestinianMOH, there are 1342 registered patients following up for type I diabetes in the West Bank PHC’s,which makes 6.5% of all diabetics following up at these clinics; about 20% of those patients are from Hebron, and 18% from Jenin.The incidence rate (The number of new patients per100000 diagnosed as type I diabetes in these clinics for the year 2007) was 2.1M and 2.0 F for the age group 0-4,9.7M,7.3F for the age group 5-14. Its noticeable that incidence increases with age and is higher in males than females.28 First International Faculty of Medicine Conference 2008In Type 1 diabetes, lack of adherence to treatment and a failure to maintain glycaemic control can lead to long-term complications& loss of quality of life. Young age Children are at higher risk of longtermcomplications. Chronic illness places the adolescent at a greater risk because of added emotional difficulties and stress in coping with rigorous regimens and restrictions. Other problems are economic and social, in the form of stigma like delay in marriage or reduced job opportunities. Among the several problems faced by the young diabetic, the most common and often most difficult to deal with is that of adherence or compliance to a regimen. Children with diabetes in developing countries face profound challenges in managing their diabetes. Obstacles in Palestine are similar to universal ones mentioned. In my experience important obstacles in Palestine are; lack of cooperation & coordination between health providers, lack of national treatment guidelines, insufficient preventive and control policies, shortage of human and financial resources, lack of well trained health provider team and important specialists, lack of patient and family education about management and coping, and finally inadequate financial coverage for the management cost. Proper management of diabetic children in Palestine as a developing country with special political situation, face many obstacles at different levels (national, MOH programs, family& school)My experience and my recommendations in Palestine will concentrate on cooperation of physicians and nurses to help diabetic children and their families cope with their disease, improve their quality of life by proper management & reducing morbidities. This can be achieved by follow-up of this group of patients in Proposed specialized well equipped clinic by a well trained team (physicians, nurses, psychologist, educator, and dietician), increase the awareness of their families and teachers about this disease and how to deal in emergencies (education programs), recruitment activities during holidays(camps, trips, sports), and home visits for special cases.</p>
<p>Type 1 diabetes is one of the most frequent chronic diseases in childhood. According to PalestinianMOH, there are 1342 registered patients following up for type I diabetes in the West Bank PHC’s,which makes 6.5% of all diabetics following up at these clinics; about 20% of those patients are from Hebron, and 18% from Jenin.The incidence rate (The number of new patients per100000 diagnosed as type I diabetes in these clinics for the year 2007) was 2.1M and 2.0 F for the age group 0-4,9.7M,7.3F for the age group 5-14. Its noticeable that incidence increases with age and is higher in males than females.28 First International Faculty of Medicine Conference 2008In Type 1 diabetes, lack of adherence to treatment and a failure to maintain glycaemic control can lead to long-term complications& loss of quality of life. Young age Children are at higher risk of longtermcomplications. Chronic illness places the adolescent at a greater risk because of added emotional difficulties and stress in coping with rigorous regimens and restrictions. Other problems are economic and social, in the form of stigma like delay in marriage or reduced job opportunities. Among the several problems faced by the young diabetic, the most common and often most difficult to deal with is that of adherence or compliance to a regimen. Children with diabetes in developing countries face profound challenges in managing their diabetes. Obstacles in Palestine are similar to universal ones mentioned. In my experience important obstacles in Palestine are; lack of cooperation & coordination between health providers, lack of national treatment guidelines, insufficient preventive and control policies, shortage of human and financial resources, lack of well trained health provider team and important specialists, lack of patient and family education about management and coping, and finally inadequate financial coverage for the management cost. Proper management of diabetic children in Palestine as a developing country with special political situation, face many obstacles at different levels (national, MOH programs, family& school)My experience and my recommendations in Palestine will concentrate on cooperation of physicians and nurses to help diabetic children and their families cope with their disease, improve their quality of life by proper management & reducing morbidities. This can be achieved by follow-up of this group of patients in Proposed specialized well equipped clinic by a well trained team (physicians, nurses, psychologist, educator, and dietician), increase the awareness of their families and teachers about this disease and how to deal in emergencies (education programs), recruitment activities during holidays(camps, trips, sports), and home visits for special cases.</p>
<p>Type 1 diabetes is one of the most frequent chronic diseases in childhood. According to PalestinianMOH, there are 1342 registered patients following up for type I diabetes in the West Bank PHC’s,which makes 6.5% of all diabetics following up at these clinics; about 20% of those patients are from Hebron, and 18% from Jenin.The incidence rate (The number of new patients per100000 diagnosed as type I diabetes in these clinics for the year 2007) was 2.1M and 2.0 F for the age group 0-4,9.7M,7.3F for the age group 5-14. Its noticeable that incidence increases with age and is higher in males than females.28 First International Faculty of Medicine Conference 2008In Type 1 diabetes, lack of adherence to treatment and a failure to maintain glycaemic control can lead to long-term complications& loss of quality of life. Young age Children are at higher risk of longtermcomplications. Chronic illness places the adolescent at a greater risk because of added emotional difficulties and stress in coping with rigorous regimens and restrictions. Other problems are economic and social, in the form of stigma like delay in marriage or reduced job opportunities. Among the several problems faced by the young diabetic, the most common and often most difficult to deal with is that of adherence or compliance to a regimen. Children with diabetes in developing countries face profound challenges in managing their diabetes. Obstacles in Palestine are similar to universal ones mentioned. In my experience important obstacles in Palestine are; lack of cooperation & coordination between health providers, lack of national treatment guidelines, insufficient preventive and control policies, shortage of human and financial resources, lack of well trained health provider team and important specialists, lack of patient and family education about management and coping, and finally inadequate financial coverage for the management cost. Proper management of diabetic children in Palestine as a developing country with special political situation, face many obstacles at different levels (national, MOH programs, family& school)My experience and my recommendations in Palestine will concentrate on cooperation of physicians and nurses to help diabetic children and their families cope with their disease, improve their quality of life by proper management & reducing morbidities. This can be achieved by follow-up of this group of patients in Proposed specialized well equipped clinic by a well trained team (physicians, nurses, psychologist, educator, and dietician), increase the awareness of their families and teachers about this disease and how to deal in emergencies (education programs), recruitment activities during holidays(camps, trips, sports), and home visits for special cases.</p>