This experimental-based research established the effect of diabetes education program on gestational diabetes mellitus knowledge among diabetic pregnant women. The outcomes of the research are quite encouraging and reflect notable implications to health, research, education and policy. It shows that the health knowledge regarding complications can be improved through educational intervention. Secondly, the gap between existing literature and the present study has been covered. Finally, the educational interventions are dependable tools that can significantly impact on the health policies. This study reveals significant effect of DEP on GDMK among DPW during pregnancy. The DEP has significant effect on the quality of GDMK among DPW in the experimental group than their counterparts in the control group in the posttest measures. Also, the treatment given was found to be more effective on GDMK when percentage scores of pretest and posttest measures of the DPW in the experimental group are compared. The changes in the pretest and posttest scores are attributed to the intervention received by DPW in the experimental group. This study therefore, affirms that DEP is an effective health promoting mechanism with significant impact in improving the quality of knowledge regarding health complications among the most vulnerable groups in the population. It equally suggests that successful implementation of DEP can be instrumental in combating other pregnancy-related complications such as malaria, anaemia, and hypertension. Available research indicated that the management of GDM largely depends on DPW’s thoughts, perception, knowledge and understanding of the disease [9].
From the literature reviewed, similar programs were found to be significantly effective in accomplishing various research goals. For instance, a randomized controlled trial of a culturally tailored diabetes education and management program led by a community health worker, reported significant effect of Community Diabetes Education (CoDE) for uninsured Mexican Americans [13]. An international perspective study involving pre- and post-test educational intervention program of 215 patients reported a high mean score of knowledge increase from 60.6 ± 20.65 to 78.1 ± 13.4 after a diabetes education program for people with type 2 diabetes [14]. Also, a community-based quasi-experimental study involving 103 participants reported significant effect of diabetes education program on physical exercise among participants with type 2 diabetes [15]. Also, Arash et al. [24] reported the effectiveness of educational intervention based on psychological factors on achieving health outcomes in patients with type 2 diabetes. Patricia et al. [16] reported that Diabetes Self-Management Education and Medical Nutrition Therapy have significant effect on Registered Dietician Nutritionist Interventions in the Management of Glycemic Control and Diabetic Dyslipidemia.
The outcome of our study has availed quality data to the existing literature on educational intervention studies. However, poor management of GDM can result in many harmful effects on the DPW and the foetus. Available literature reported some notable severe outcomes of poor management and uncontrolled GDM on maternal and neonatal health [1, 4]. Specifically, Ferrara et al. [1] summarized the adverse GDM outcomes on maternal health to include miscarriages, caesarean section, increase in weight, and increased risk of type 2 diabetes mellitus in future. The neonatal severe outcomes include macrosomia, neonatal hypoglycaemia, respiratory disorders, elevated number of red blood cells, lower levels of calcium in neonate, jaundice, still birth, and even neonatal death [4]. These unwholesome conditions draw the attention of experts and professionals (i.e. gynecologists, obstetrician, counsellors, educators, physicians and psychologists) in sourcing for reliable approaches to remedy the situation. The researchers therefore, recommend the adoption of the outcome of this research by concerned individuals, bodies and organizations in rendering dignified care and services to DPW. In addition, it is hoped that this finding would aid the development of a functional diabetes knowledge-based intervention system necessary in helping DPW to maintain optimum wellbeing during pregnancy and after delivery.
Although, the strength of this experimental study lies in its methodology and design, yet, there are notable limitations. Firstly, data collection process relied primarily on GDMK questionnaire. There is need to adopt other methods of data collection such as qualitative approach including interview, and focus group discussion. These approaches would avail the participants the ample opportunity to express their views and experiences regarding the study phenomenon. Also, further studies are needed to follow-up the post intervention effects using the same study population. This is important because the present study is restricted to pretest and post test measures only. Also, this study investigated only the DPW who were recruited from hospital facilities. There is need to conduct further studies to explore the effect of DEP on GDMK among DPW at community level.