Abstract
This study was carried out to investigate the significance of health-related predictors of diabetes in Pima Indians Women. The study population was the females 21 years and above of Pima Indian heritage patients of diabetes and digestive and kidney diseases. The research question was: what are the health predictions that associated with the presence of diabetes in Pima Indians? The study aimed at testing the significance of health-related predictors of diabetes in Pima Indians women. That was according to World Health Organization criteria (i.e. if the 2-hour post-load plasma glucose was at least 200 mg/dl at any survey examination or if found during routine medical care). A total of 768 women were registered in the database. (268:35%) were having diabetes, while (500:65%) were not. The average number of pregnancies was higher (4.9) in diabetic in comparing to (3.3) in non-diabetic women with a significant difference (P <0.05) between them. Significant (P<0.05) positive correlation (41.7) was found between plasma level and occurrence of diabetes and that patients with a normal range of plasma level were at higher risk of being diabetic. OR = 2.479, [95% CI =1.999, 3.073], P=0.00. The Body Mass Index (BMI) showed a significant association (P<0.05) with the occurrence of diabetes and that even the normal weighted women were at almost 8 times risk of being diabetic in comparison to the overweight, OR = 7.876, [95% CI= 3.557, 17.439]; P=0.00. Significant inverse relation (P<0.05) was seen between the age distribution and diabetic occurrence. Women at age group < 25 years were at higher risk to contract diabetes in comparison to the older age group. OR = 6.616, [CI= 4.145, 10.561], P=0.00. The study concluded that the genetic component is likely to contribute more to the emergence of diabetes in the Pima Indians and their offspring. The study recommended that there should be more preventive input and periodic follow-up especially during pregnancy in this ethnic group to reduce the risk and complications of type II diabetes. Besides, the provision of intervention for weight reduction.