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World J Diabetes. Oct 15, 2023; 14(10): 1493-1501
Published online Oct 15, 2023. doi: 10.4239/wjd.v14.i10.1493
Accessibility and utilization of healthcare services among diabetic patients: Is diabetes a poor man’s ailment?
Chiedu Eseadi, Amos Nnaemeka Amedu, Leonard Chidi Ilechukwu, Millicent O Ngwu, Osita Victor Ossai
Chiedu Eseadi, Amos Nnaemeka Amedu, Department of Educational Psychology, University of Johannesburg, Johannesburg 2006, Gauteng, South Africa
Leonard Chidi Ilechukwu, Department of Arts Education, University of Nigeria, Nsukka 41001, Enugu, Nigeria
Millicent O Ngwu, Department of Sociology and Anthropology, University of Nigeria, Nsukka 41001, Enugu, Nigeria
Osita Victor Ossai, Department of Childhood Education, University of Johannesburg, Johannesburg 2006, Gauteng, South Africa
Author contributions: Eseadi C, Amedu AN, Ilechukwu CL, Ossai VO, and Ngwu MO conceived the study; Eseadi C, Ilechukwu CL, Ossai VO, Ngwu MO, and Amedu AN designed the study, conducted the literature review, and were responsible for the analysis, drafting, editing, and approval of the final version of this manuscript.
Conflict-of-interest statement: The authors have no conflicts of interest to disclose.
Open-Access: This article is an open-access article that was selected by an in-house editor and fully peer-reviewed by external reviewers. It is distributed in accordance with the Creative Commons Attribution NonCommercial (CC BY-NC 4.0) license, which permits others to distribute, remix, adapt, build upon this work non-commercially, and license their derivative works on different terms, provided the original work is properly cited and the use is non-commercial. See: https://creativecommons.org/Licenses/by-nc/4.0/
Corresponding author: Leonard Chidi Ilechukwu, PhD, Senior Lecturer, Department of Arts Education, University of Nigeria, 213 Bab Fafunwa Building, Nsukka 41001, Enugu, Nigeria. leonard.ilechukwu@gmail.com
Received: April 29, 2023
Peer-review started: April 29, 2023
First decision: June 13, 2023
Revised: July 3, 2023
Accepted: September 6, 2023
Article in press: September 6, 2023
Published online: October 15, 2023
Abstract

Diabetes is a non-communicable ailment that has adverse effects on the individual’s overall well-being and productivity in society. The main objective of this study was to examine the empirical literature concerning the association between diabetes and poverty and the accessibility and utilization of medical care services among diabetic patients. The diabetes literature was explored using a literature review approach. This review revealed that diabetes is an ailment that affects all individuals irrespective of socioeconomic status; however, its pre-valence is high in low-income countries. Hence, despite the higher prevalence of diabetes in developing countries compared with developed countries, diabetes is not a poor man’s ailment because it affects individuals of all incomes. While the number of diabetic patients that access and utilize diabetes medical care services has increased over the years, some personal and institutional factors still limit patients’ access to the use of diabetes care. Also, there is a lacuna in the diabetes literature concerning the extent of utilization of available healthcare services by diabetic patients.

Keywords: Accessibility, Diabetes, Healthcare services, Patients, Poverty

Core Tip: Diabetic patients require more medical care services than patients without diabetes as a result of their high chances of comorbidities, poor glycemic control, and frequent hospitalization. Despite the promising upsurge in the number of diabetic patients seeking medical care services due to awareness, some personal and institutional factors continue to limit patients’ chances of access to diabetes care. Furthermore, there is a lacuna in the diabetes literature concerning the extent of utilization of medical services available by individuals with diabetes.