Diabetes mellitus type 2 in urban Ghana: characteristics and associated factors

BACKGROUND: Sub-Saharan Africa faces a rapid spread of diabetes mellitus type 2 (DM2) but its potentially specific characteristics are inadequately defined. In this hospital-based study in Kumasi, Ghana, we aimed at characterizing clinical, anthropometric, socio-economic, nutritional and behavioural parameters of DM2 patients and at identifying associated factors. METHODS: Between August 2007 and June 2008, 1466 individuals were recruited from diabetes and hypertension clinics, outpatients, community, and hospital staff. Fasting plasma glucose (FPG), serum lipids and urinary albumin were measured. Physical examination, anthropometry, and interviews on medical history, socio-economic status (SES), physical activity and nutritional behaviour were performed. RESULTS: The majority of the 675 DM2 patients (mean FPG, 8.31 mmol/L) was female (75%) and aged 40-60 years (mean, 55 years). DM2 was known in 97% of patients, almost all were on medication. Many had hypertension (63%) and microalbuminuria (43%); diabetic complications occurred in 20%. Overweight (body mass index > 25 kg/m2), increased body fat (> 20% (male), > 33% (female)), and central adiposity (waist-to-hip ratio > 0.90 (male), > 0.85 (female)) were frequent occurring in 53%, 56%, and 75%, respectively. Triglycerides were increased (≥ 1.695 mmol/L) in 31% and cholesterol (≥ 5.17 mmol/L) in 65%. Illiteracy (46%) was high and SES indicators generally low. Factors independently associated with DM2 included a diabetes family history (adjusted odds ratio (aOR), 3.8; 95% confidence interval (95%CI), 2.6-5.5), abdominal adiposity (aOR, 2.6; 95%CI, 1.8-3.9), increased triglycerides (aOR, 1.8; 95%CI, 1.1-3.0), and also several indicators of low SES. CONCLUSIONS: In this study from urban Ghana, DM2 affects predominantly obese patients of rather low socio-economic status and frequently is accompanied by hypertension and hyperlipidaemia. Prevention and management need to account for a specific risk profile in this population

Teacher education and professional development for technology integrated teaching

This entry describes the characteristics of professional development programs (PD) to enhance teacher educators’ (teachers of pre-service teachers) knowledge of technology-integrated teaching which subsequently facilitates their effective use of technology in the teaching in initial teacher education institutions. There are challenges with using technology in teaching, but relevant PD can help teacher educators to overcome these challenges for the effective use of technology in teaching. The description is drawn upon data from an intervention study involving designing and handling PD to assist mathematics teacher educators in integrating technology in their teaching and illustrating the characteristics of effective PD for teacher educators in tertiary settings. The entry is organized in five sections. It begins with a description of the importance of technology in higher education followed by an illustration of teacher education that highlights the challenges for technology-integrated teaching. The third section illustrates the characteristics of effective PD for technology integrated teaching in initial teacher educations. The fourth section suggested the characteristics of effective PD programs for teacher educators and implications for preparing pre-service teachers. The conclusion summarizes the findings presented in this entry. Some of the study papers referred to concerned PD programs for school teachers that were included because of their relevance to teacher educators at initial teacher education institutions. The following section highlights the importance of technology in higher education