First

N = 28

N (%)*

Second

N = 41

N (%)*

Third

N = 87

N (%)

p-value˚

Personal barriers

Unawareness of the injection method.

7 (25.0)

20 (48.8)

40 (46.0)

0.102

Unawareness of insulin dose control method.

11 (39.3)

22 (53.7)

42 (48.3)

0.502

Doubt about the efficacy of insulin.

4 (14.3)

7 (17.1)

13 (14.9)

0.938

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

11 (39.3)

19 (46.3)

36 (41.4)

0.815

Preference for other treatment methods over insulin.

15 (53.6)

25 (61.0)

49 (56.3)

0.813

Past personal experience of insulin-related complications.

3 (10.7)

6 (14.6)

11 (12.6)

0.889

Treatment plan complexity.

5 (17.9)

14 (34.1)

15 (17.2)

0.083

Relying on others to take insulin.

4 (14.3)

5 (12.2)

19 (21.8)

0.355

Religious beliefs.

1 (3.6)

3 (7.3)

6 (6.9)

0.792

Lack of confidence in doctors’ opinions.

1 (3.6)

1 (2.4)

6 (6.9)

0.520

Forgetfulness.

8 (28.6)

12 (29.3)

36 (41.4)

0.276

Family (social) barriers

Lack of family support for taking insulin injections.

2 (7.1)

5 (12.2)

17 (19.5)

0.230

Feeling Stigmatized.

1 (3.6)

5 (12.2)

6 (6.9)

0.383

Past family experience of insulin-related complications.

6 (21.4)

12 (29.3)

20 (23.0)

0.685

Side effects barriers

Fear of hypoglycaemia.

18 (64.3)

24 (58.5)

53 (60.9)

0.891

Fear of weight gain.

18 (64.3)

21 (51.2)

44 (50.6)

0.430

Fear of allergic reactions at the injection site.

13 (46.4)

16 (39.0)

36 (41.4)

0.823

Misconceptions about insulin injections

Insulin may lead to stillbirth.

1 (3.6)

5 (12.2)

18 (20.7)

0.074

Insulin is addictive; the injection will continue for life.

5 (17.9)

13 (31.7)

22 (25.3)

0.430

Insulin causes aging.

1 (3.6)

5 (12.2)

9 (10.3)

0.462

Insulin negatively affects sexual desire.

3 (10.7)

5 (12.2)

10 (11.5)

0.982

Work-related barriers

Long working hours.

3 (10.7)

6 (14.6)

14 (16.1)

0.784

Irregular eating times during working hours.

4 (14.3)

5 (12.2)

15 (17.2)

0.749

Lack of privacy during injection.

5 (17.9)

6 (14.6)

9 (10.3)

0.540