Employed

N = 29

N (%)*

Unemployed

N = 135

N (%)*

p-value

Personal barriers

Unawareness of the injection method.

8 (27.6)

59 (43.7)

0.109˚

Unawareness of insulin dose control method.

13 (44.8)

62 (45.9)

0.914˚

Doubt about the efficacy of insulin.

3 (10.3)

22 (16.3)

0.312^#

Fear of (needles, pain at the injection site).

9 (31.0)

58 (43.0)

0.236˚

Preference for other treatment methods over insulin.

14 (48.3)

78 (57.8)

0.350˚

Past personal experience of insulin-related complications.

2 (6.9)

18 (13.3)

0.270^#

Treatment plan complexity.

3 (10.3)

31 (23.0)

0.098^#

Relying on others to take insulin.

2 (6.9)

25 (18.5)

0.099^#

Religious beliefs.

1 (3.4)

8 (5.9)

0.505^#

Lack of confidence in doctors’ opinions.

1 (3.4)

7 (5.2)

0.571^#

Forgetfulness.

11 (37.9)

47 (34.8)

0.750˚

Family (social) barriers

Lack of family support for taking insulin injections.

1 (3.4)

25 (18.5)

0.031^#

Feeling Stigmatized.

0 (0.0)

12 (8.9)

0.088^#

Past family experience of insulin-related complications.

6 (20.7)

33 (24.4)

0.667˚

Side effects barriers

Fear of hypoglycaemia.

17 (58.6)

80 (59.3)

0.949˚

Fear of weight gain.

14 (48.3)

69 (51.1)

0.782˚

Fear of allergic reactions at the injection site.

11 (37.9)

56 (41.5)

0.724˚

Misconceptions about insulin injections

Insulin may lead to stillbirth.

3 (10.3)

22 (16.3)

0.312^#

Insulin is addictive; the injection will continue for life.

6 (20.7)

37 (27.4)

0.456˚

Insulin causes aging.

3 (10.3)

13 (9.6)

0.565^#

Insulin negatively affects sexual desire.

7 (24.1)

13 (9.6)

0.030˚