Abstract

Introduction:
Recent Health Statistics reveal that the prevalence of Type-2 Diabetes Mellitus in Indian children and adolescents ranges 50.9 per 1000 (Age group 15-19 years). Creating awareness among children and adolescents regarding diabetes mellitus and its management through Ayurveda may act as an important preventive strategy in this target population. Various strategies like, counseling, TV advertisements, comic books etc. are used to educate children about healthy life style and prevention of metabolic disorders.
Objective of the study
This study aimed to determine the level of awareness and basic knowledge of diabetes among children and assess the role of educational comic book in creating awareness.
Methods:
A study among randomly selected 50 children (age range 9-16 years) attending Ayurveda tertiary care hospital (All India Institute of Ayurveda, New Delhi) was conducted in All India Institute of Ayurveda and Information was collected using a structured questionnaire before and after reading an educational comics book on Diabetes mellitus.
RESULT: Average score in percentage regarding enhancement of general knowledge on DM is 15.25%, regarding etiology and clinical features is 23 %, about complication is 23 %, regarding role of Ayurveda is 54 %, regarding role of yoga is8 %.
DISCUSSION:
Educational Comic book may act as a very important tool for educating children and adolescents about Diabetes mellitus. Further, it has the potential to impart knowledge regarding preventive measures described in Ayurveda in a very comprehensive way.

Key words: KEY WORDS: Comics, Diabetes mellitus, Children