Diabetes mellitus awareness among students attending a public high school in Kurdistan Region of Iraq: a cross-sectional study.

Background and aim: Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a chronic metabolic disorder and a significant global concern due to its steadily increasing prevalence. Educating youths and adolescents about such diseases is crucial for promoting healthy lifestyle choices. This study aims to evaluate the knowledge of public high school students about DM and identify areas where their understanding is lacking. Materials and methodology: In February 2023, a descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted in the Duhok province of the Kurdistan Region in Iraq. The study enrolled 392 students from a public high school, who were surveyed using a self-administered questionnaire. This questionnaire had two sections: the first collected basic demographic information of the participants, while the second included 20 items assessing various aspects of DM knowledge, such as general information, risk factors, signs and symptoms, complications, and prevention. Results: The mean age of the study participants was 16.4 years (±0.71). Among the participants, 247 (63%) were female, and 190 (48.5%) had a positive family history of DM. Unfortunately, only 53 students (13.5%) had received training programs about the disease, although the vast majority (89.3%) expressed willingness to participate in the prevention programs. For 70.2% of the participants, family and friends were the primary sources of information. The mean knowledge score was 13.9 (±3), with an average correct answer rate of 68.55%. Female students, those with a positive family history, had significantly demonstrated a better overall knowledge score with a mean knowledge score of 14.14 ± 2.96 and 14.17 ± 2.98, respectively. Also, participants using multiple sources for information, and those who had received training programs on DM, demonstrated a better overall knowledge score with a mean score of 14.21 ± 2.90 and 14.34 ± 3.31, respectively. However, it missed the significance. Conclusion: The study participants exhibited good knowledge and awareness of DM. However, there were notable gaps in their understanding of the disease's risk factors and complications. Therefore, we recommend incorporating health education programs and lifestyle modification initiatives into the school curriculum to enhance students' knowledge and address the identified gaps.