Conceptual Complexity in Children's Understanding of Diabetes

Diabetes is one of the highly prevalent non communicable diseases (NCD) that has invaded both developed and developing countries. The WHO projections for the world as well as specific countries are highly alarming. Interventions consequent upon these projections must target children who constitute vulnerable population for the projected year. The first stepping stone towards such intervention is to measure the existing knowledge about the disease in children. The present study combined the qualitative and quantitative methods in exploring children's concept of diabetes. A sample of 548 children from three schools studying in class VI through X were administered an open ended question to get data on children's understanding of the concept of diabetes. The data were analyzed qualitatively and quantitatively. The content analyses identified five broad themes, viz., the definition, causes, symptoms, consequences and management of diabetes. Responses indicating misconceptions were grouped separately. Anew method of measuring the complexity of the concept was used. The response divergence indicating explanation of the disease across the themes was measured by computing 'Entropy values' using a formula. The response divergence or conceptual complexity was measured for each class. Results indicated a sudden spurt in conceptual complexity in class X. Results also indicated a dismally low level of knowledge about diabetes and large number of misconceptions. Low levels of knowledge and huge misconceptions warrant public health measures through awareness programmes in campaignmode.