Assessing University Students’ Risk Factors for Type-2 Diabetes

International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science (IJRISS) | Volume II, Issue XII, December 2018 | ISSN 2454–6186

Assessing University Students’ Risk Factors for Type-2 Diabetes

A.H. Fatin Amira¹, C. Azlini², R. Normala³, Z.M. Lukman⁴, M.Y. Kamal⁵

^1,2,3,4,5 Faculty of Applied Social Sciences, Universiti Sultan Zainal Abidin, Kuala Nerus, Terengganu, Malaysia

Abstract—The purpose of this study is to examine the risk factors that might lead to Diabetes Type-2 and to identify the level of understanding about Diabetes Type-2. This study involved students of Social Work in year one, year two, year three and year four at Universiti Sultan Zainal Abidin (UniSZA). In this study, the researcher used descriptive methods, which only focuses on frequency and percentages. The results showed that risk factors of Diabetes Type-2 which includes ethnic factor, obesity factor, physical activities factor, hypertension factor, cholesterol factor, bodyshape factor, and family history factor were at anormal level among respondents. Next, the findings showed that the level of understanding among respondents was at a low level. This is because the respondents still do know exactly what Diabetes Type-2 is and what kind of risk factors that might lead toDiabetes Type-2, furthermore respondents are living unhealthy lifestyle that made them at risk of getting Diabetes Type-2.

Keyword— Risk Factor, the Level of Understanding, Diabetes Type-2, Social Work Students, Descriptive Methods.

I. INTRODUCTIONS

Diabetes is the most obvious health problem [1]. In the year 2010, a total of 26 million (8.3%) US citizens have been affected by diabetes, 10.9 million are older people above 65 years old and about 1.9 million are new cases involving people over 20 years old [2]. Data from SEARCH study have shown that adolescent of aged 10-19 years getting Diabetes Type-2 [3].In Malaysia, Diabetes Type-2 is a public health issue that is very disturbing and closely related to the rise in micro and macro complications and premature death [4]. World Health Organizationstates that 422 million people (8.5%) of the world population that are over 18 years old was suffering from Diabetes Type-2 disease [5] and results show that majority of them are women [6]. The increase Diabetes Type-2 caseshas least negative effects, however, this can be reduced through prevention strategies [7].

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