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Background Glycaemic control is a significant problem in diabetes care in sub-Saharan Africa. In the Democratic Republic of the Congo, factors associated with glycaemic control are not fully known as previous studies rarely explored patients’ perspectives and lived experiences. This study describes the lived experiences and perspectives of patients with type 2 diabetes regarding glycaemic control in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo. Methods This study was a qualitative study conducted in 7 health centres in 7 health districts (out of 24) in Kinshasa. Purposively selected patients with type 2 were invited to participate in in-depth interviews to explore their lived experience on diabetes treatment and glycaemic control. All interviews were audio recorded, transcribed verbatim and translated into English by a language expert. Data coding and thematic analysis were performed using the MAXQDA 2022. Results Twenty-three participants were included in the study. Six themes emerged as explanations for glycaemic control in Kinshasa. Three of these themes were related to poor glycaemic control: poor self-care, poor clinical care in primary health care facilities, and limited sociodemographic and financial support. Three additional themes emerged for good glycaemic control: motivation and commitment to treatment, individualized and available care, and ability to perform the change for glycaemic control. Conclusions Patients’ perspectives and lived experiences of diabetes care and glycaemic control in Kinshasa transcend personal, health system and psychosocial aspects of care. Efforts to strengthen diabetes care in this setting need to focus on promoting self-care, training healthcare providers on an evidence-based clinical approach, and providing psychosocial support that motivates patients to commit to care. The implementation of universal health coverage at the primary care level would ensure accessibility to diabetes care for socioeconomically deprived patients. |
