Urban youth with Type 1 Diabetes in South Africa face unique challenges in managing their condition effectively due to limited access to healthcare services and resources. A mixed-methods approach was employed, including a survey to measure app usage frequency (mean ± SD: 3. 5 ± 0. 7 daily) and qualitative interviews for in-depth understanding of user experiences and challenges. Findings suggest that while 82% of participants reported increased self-management skills post-intervention (eta = 1. 2, p < 0. 01), there was a significant variance in adherence to app recommendations (CI: -0. 5 to 0. 7). The intervention protocol successfully enhanced diabetes self-management among youth with Type 1 Diabetes but highlighted the need for ongoing support and personalized app recommendations. Future research should focus on developing culturally tailored apps and integrating community-based support networks to improve long-term outcomes.
Ngwenya et al. (Tue,) studied this question.