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School attendance in children with Type 1 diabetes
Summary
Children with Type 1 diabetes mellitus (DM) miss slightly more school than peers. Factors like parental attitudes, metabolic control, and disease duration influence absenteeism in diabetic children.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Endocrinology
- Public Health
Background:
- Type 1 diabetes mellitus (DM) is a chronic condition affecting children.
- School attendance is crucial for academic and social development.
- Understanding factors influencing school absenteeism in children with DM is important for support.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare school absenteeism between children with Type 1 DM and their non-DM siblings and peers.
- To identify child-, family-, and diabetes-related factors associated with school absenteeism in children with Type 1 DM.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective analysis of school absenteeism data for the 2000-01 school year.
- Inclusion of 78 children with DM, 38 non-DM siblings, and 118,269 age-matched peers in Toronto.
- Utilized questionnaires and hospital records to assess influencing factors.
Main Results:
- Children with DM missed significantly more school than non-DM siblings (10.9 vs. 8.1 days) and peers (8.8 vs. 5.5 days).
- Factors associated with absenteeism included parental attitudes, poorer metabolic control, shorter disease duration, and lack of aggressive behavior.
- Multiple regression analysis identified key predictors of school absence.
Conclusions:
- Near-normal school attendance is an achievable goal for children with Type 1 DM using current management strategies.
- Encouragement from parents, educators, and healthcare professionals is vital.
- Addressing identified factors can help improve school attendance for children with DM.