Exploring diabetic patients experiences during war in Sudan: insights from a multi-city study
Abstract Background The health system in Sudan was severely compromised by the ongoing conflict, jeopardizing the lives of millions of vulnerable people suffering from chronic health conditions, including diabetic patients. This study explored the experiences of diabetic patients, focusing on the ch...
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BMC
2025-06-01
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| Series: | Conflict and Health |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s13031-025-00671-3 |
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| author | Mohamed Hisham Alamin Manasik Mamoun Leina Elfatih Salah Mohamed Ali Elomeiri Sarah Hashim Mohammed Osman Shrouk M. Abdou Fatima Mohamed Osman Yasin Ekhlass Ahmed Musa Mohamed Abdelrahman Idris Mohamed Idris Marwa Adil Abdelwahab Hag Ahmed Lina Ahmed Ali Mohmmed Ahmed Abdalmahmoud Asadig Kanan Ahmed Mariam Abdelgadir Hago Taha Moneer Ali Abdallah Ali Esra Abdallah Abdalwahed Mahgoub |
| author_facet | Mohamed Hisham Alamin Manasik Mamoun Leina Elfatih Salah Mohamed Ali Elomeiri Sarah Hashim Mohammed Osman Shrouk M. Abdou Fatima Mohamed Osman Yasin Ekhlass Ahmed Musa Mohamed Abdelrahman Idris Mohamed Idris Marwa Adil Abdelwahab Hag Ahmed Lina Ahmed Ali Mohmmed Ahmed Abdalmahmoud Asadig Kanan Ahmed Mariam Abdelgadir Hago Taha Moneer Ali Abdallah Ali Esra Abdallah Abdalwahed Mahgoub |
| author_sort | Mohamed Hisham Alamin |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background The health system in Sudan was severely compromised by the ongoing conflict, jeopardizing the lives of millions of vulnerable people suffering from chronic health conditions, including diabetic patients. This study explored the experiences of diabetic patients, focusing on the challenges they faced in accessing medical consultations, medications, and blood glucose monitoring during the ongoing war. Methods A descriptive facility-based cross-sectional study was conducted across seven hospitals and diabetes centers in Sudan from May to July 2024, enrolling 350 diabetic patients. Convenient sampling was used to select the participants from the outpatient clinics of the targeted health facilities. Data was collected by interviewing patients using a structured questionnaire. Results Sixty percent of participants faced challenges accessing medications, with drug shortages (65.9%), the closure of pharmacies (44.1%), and safety concerns (39.8%) being the major barriers. Insulin users experienced significant difficulties, with 69.1% reporting problems storing their medications due to frequent power outages. The majority of patients (81.1%) faced challenges accessing medical care during the war. The most common difficulties included transportation issues and long wait times or overcrowding. The war disrupted the healthy eating habits of 34.9% of patients. Moreover, 54.3% of patients experienced a decline in blood sugar testing frequency, often due to the unavailability of laboratories and financial constraints. Displaced patients and patients in Al Mangal City suffered the most from these challenges. Conclusion This study reveals the devastating impact of the ongoing conflict on diabetes care in Sudan. Severe disruptions to healthcare access, including medication shortages and limited resources, have forced patients to adopt hazardous coping mechanisms. Urgent action is needed, including humanitarian aid and innovative interventions, to ensure equitable and sustainable diabetes care for all Sudanese patients. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-dc82a05ce27a403283ddcafbf985ab46 |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 1752-1505 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-06-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Conflict and Health |
| spelling | doaj-art-dc82a05ce27a403283ddcafbf985ab462025-08-20T02:37:58ZengBMCConflict and Health1752-15052025-06-0119111310.1186/s13031-025-00671-3Exploring diabetic patients experiences during war in Sudan: insights from a multi-city studyMohamed Hisham Alamin0Manasik Mamoun1Leina Elfatih Salah Mohamed Ali Elomeiri2Sarah Hashim Mohammed Osman3Shrouk M. Abdou4Fatima Mohamed Osman Yasin5Ekhlass Ahmed Musa Mohamed6Abdelrahman Idris Mohamed Idris7Marwa Adil Abdelwahab Hag Ahmed8Lina Ahmed Ali Mohmmed Ahmed9Abdalmahmoud Asadig Kanan Ahmed10Mariam Abdelgadir Hago Taha11Moneer Ali Abdallah Ali12Esra Abdallah Abdalwahed Mahgoub13Faculty of Medicine, International University of AfricaOne Percent Research InitiativeOne Percent Research InitiativeFaculty of Medicine, University of KhartoumOne Percent Research InitiativeFaculty of Medical Laboratory Science, Gadarif UniversityOne Percent Research InitiativeDepartment of Medicine, Kassala Teaching HospitalFaculty of Medicine, Al Neelain UniversityFaculty of Medicine, Al Neelain UniversityFaculty of Medicine, University of GaziraFaculty of Medicine, Al Neelain UniversityFaculty of Medicine, Al Neelain UniversityOne Percent Research InitiativeAbstract Background The health system in Sudan was severely compromised by the ongoing conflict, jeopardizing the lives of millions of vulnerable people suffering from chronic health conditions, including diabetic patients. This study explored the experiences of diabetic patients, focusing on the challenges they faced in accessing medical consultations, medications, and blood glucose monitoring during the ongoing war. Methods A descriptive facility-based cross-sectional study was conducted across seven hospitals and diabetes centers in Sudan from May to July 2024, enrolling 350 diabetic patients. Convenient sampling was used to select the participants from the outpatient clinics of the targeted health facilities. Data was collected by interviewing patients using a structured questionnaire. Results Sixty percent of participants faced challenges accessing medications, with drug shortages (65.9%), the closure of pharmacies (44.1%), and safety concerns (39.8%) being the major barriers. Insulin users experienced significant difficulties, with 69.1% reporting problems storing their medications due to frequent power outages. The majority of patients (81.1%) faced challenges accessing medical care during the war. The most common difficulties included transportation issues and long wait times or overcrowding. The war disrupted the healthy eating habits of 34.9% of patients. Moreover, 54.3% of patients experienced a decline in blood sugar testing frequency, often due to the unavailability of laboratories and financial constraints. Displaced patients and patients in Al Mangal City suffered the most from these challenges. Conclusion This study reveals the devastating impact of the ongoing conflict on diabetes care in Sudan. Severe disruptions to healthcare access, including medication shortages and limited resources, have forced patients to adopt hazardous coping mechanisms. Urgent action is needed, including humanitarian aid and innovative interventions, to ensure equitable and sustainable diabetes care for all Sudanese patients.https://doi.org/10.1186/s13031-025-00671-3SudanNoncommunicable diseasesDiabetes mellitusDisplaced personsHealth servicesArmed conflicts |
| spellingShingle | Mohamed Hisham Alamin Manasik Mamoun Leina Elfatih Salah Mohamed Ali Elomeiri Sarah Hashim Mohammed Osman Shrouk M. Abdou Fatima Mohamed Osman Yasin Ekhlass Ahmed Musa Mohamed Abdelrahman Idris Mohamed Idris Marwa Adil Abdelwahab Hag Ahmed Lina Ahmed Ali Mohmmed Ahmed Abdalmahmoud Asadig Kanan Ahmed Mariam Abdelgadir Hago Taha Moneer Ali Abdallah Ali Esra Abdallah Abdalwahed Mahgoub Exploring diabetic patients experiences during war in Sudan: insights from a multi-city study Conflict and Health Sudan Noncommunicable diseases Diabetes mellitus Displaced persons Health services Armed conflicts |
| title | Exploring diabetic patients experiences during war in Sudan: insights from a multi-city study |
| title_full | Exploring diabetic patients experiences during war in Sudan: insights from a multi-city study |
| title_fullStr | Exploring diabetic patients experiences during war in Sudan: insights from a multi-city study |
| title_full_unstemmed | Exploring diabetic patients experiences during war in Sudan: insights from a multi-city study |
| title_short | Exploring diabetic patients experiences during war in Sudan: insights from a multi-city study |
| title_sort | exploring diabetic patients experiences during war in sudan insights from a multi city study |
| topic | Sudan Noncommunicable diseases Diabetes mellitus Displaced persons Health services Armed conflicts |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s13031-025-00671-3 |
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