Original Research Article
Year: 2019 | Month: October | Volume: 9 | Issue: 10 | Pages: 175-182
Effect of Self Care on Glycemic Control among Males and Females in Rural Kerala
Dr. Maria Cheryl Morris
Associate Professor, Dept. of Public Health, Division of Health Management, Centre for Professional and Advanced Studies (Affliated to Kerala University of Health Sciences, Trishur)
School of Medical Education, Gandhi Nagar, Kottayam Kerala.
ABSTRACT
This study highlighted the poor self-care activities of female Diabetes patients in a rural area of Kerala. In spite of high female literacy rates and other indicators of socio economic progress in the state of Kerala, this aspect of diabetes care remained poor. Poor self-care resulted in poor blood sugar control, leading to early onset of diabetes complications and consequent poor quality of life of female diabetes patients. This may partly be due to the patriarchal nature of society. The poor self-care activities of the females could also be attributed to behaviour conditioned by gender relations prevalent in the society. Women seem to assimilate or internalize the patriarchal subjectivity of the society. The comparative study revealed that irrespective of religion, the self-care regimen of all females remained low. The study points to a gender perspective in formulation of National health policies with Gender Equity and Gender Mainstreaming assuming great significance in achievement of all goals, globally.
Key words: Self-care, female diabetes patients, Patriarchal society, Kerala, Health policy formulation