Mobile phone ownership among Nigerians with diabetes

A survey was undertaken to determine the number of individuals who have access to Mobile phones among those attending our Diabetes clinic in order to explore whether this could replace or become an adjunct to street home address as contact information.

An observer-based questionnaire was administered to capture parameters of interest at the weekly diabetes clinic in order to answer the survey question

130 individuals aged 15-80 years who attended the clinic in the month of May 2008 were surveyed. Eighty nine (89) patients had active Mobile phone and lines while 70.8% of these were females. Strikingly, 37% percent of the study populations were from across states boundaries and other geographic areas but majority reside in Ilorin metropolis where the facility is based.

The results indicate that over two thirds of those with diabetes attending the clinic had active Mobile phone line and this could be used as an adjunct to or replace street address as a contact particular between patients and their professional care givers.