Dietary Knowledge and Its Associated Factors Among Patients with Diabetes and Hypertension in Tertiary Hospitals in Dodoma, Tanzania: A Cross-sectional Study

Abstract

Background: Dietary knowledge plays a central role in the prevention and management of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) such as diabetes and hypertension. However, limited evidence exists on patients’ understanding of appropriate dietary practices within the Tanzanian context. This study assessed the level of dietary knowledge and its associated factors among patients attending two tertiary hospitals in Dodoma, Central Tanzania.
Methods: An analytical cross-sectional study was conducted among adults diagnosed with diabetes, hypertension, or both at Benjamin Mkapa Hospital and Dodoma Regional Referral Hospital between July and September 2021. A total of 335 participants were selected through simple random sampling. Data was collected using a structured interviewer-administered questionnaire, and dietary knowledge was categorized as adequate or inadequate based on the mean score. Multivariate logistic regression was performed to identify factors associated with inadequate dietary knowledge, with significance set at p<.05.
Results: Nearly half of the respondents, 47.8% (n = 160) had hypertension, 21.2% (n = 71) had diabetes, and 31.0% (n = 104) had both conditions. More than half, 53.4% (n = 179), demonstrated inadequate dietary knowledge. Middle-aged adults (30-44 years) (AOR = 3.89; 95% CI: 1.76–8.61), unemployed individuals (AOR = 2.62; 95% CI: 1.36–5.05), and those who consumed alcohol (AOR = 2.20; 95% CI: 1.18–4.12) had significantly higher odds of inadequate dietary knowledge. Conversely, participants with hypertension only had lower odds of inadequate knowledge compared with those with both diabetes and hypertension (AOR = 0.42; 95% CI: 0.23–0.77).
Conclusion: This study revealed that more than half of patients living with diabetes, hypertension, or both had inadequate dietary knowledge, highlighting a significant gap in the nutritional understanding required for effective NCD self-management. Hence, underscore the need for targeted, context-specific dietary education interventions, particularly for socio-economically vulnerable groups, to strengthen NCD management and improve long-term health outcomes in Tanzania.