ABSTRACT
To prevent diabetes complications and improve the quality of life of these patients, adherence to self-care is essential. The purpose of present study was to examine self-care behaviors and related factors in women with type 2 diabetes. This descriptive analytic cross sectional study was performed on 140 female patients with type 2 diabetes who referred to the diabetes clinic in Ahvaz between December-March 2014. Research data were collected through interviews using demographic and disease characteristics questionnaires and the summary of diabetes self-care activities measure. Validity and reliability of the questionnaire was assessed and approved. The range of self-care scale was 0-77. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, Pearson's correlation coefficients tests, t-test, one-way ANOVA, Kruskal-Wallis and multiple linear regression models. The mean score of self-care behaviors in patients was 11.55 +/- 30.93, indicating moderate self-care. The highest mean scores were those of diet, 16.28 +/- 5.38 and proper medication compliance 5.74 +/- 2.57, while blood sugar monitoring 1.89 +/- 3.38 and physical activity 2.24 +/- 3.09 showed the lowest scores. The score of self-care behaviors showed a statistically significant difference among levels of education, duration of disease, life network, level of fasting blood glucose and mode of physician referral [P<0.05]. These significant variables, except fasting blood glucose explained 23% of self-care variance. The findings of this study could be useful for designing and implementation of educational programs to promote self-care behaviors and more effective control of type 2 diabetes in women