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Background: In Sudan, the prevalence of diabetes in adults was estimated at 19.1% in 2015. This study assessed dietary knowledge, attitude, and practices (KAP) of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) patients in Sudan. Methods: We randomly selected 238 T2DM patients from a list of 2460 patients from the Jabber Abulizz Hospital. We interviewed them face-to-face using a structured questionnaire. Multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed to investigate the determinants of KAP regarding the recommended diets for T2DM patients. Results: Majority of the patients demonstrated good knowledge (54.6%), positive attitude (79%); and good practice (58%). The result revealed that patients with formal education had 3.0 (95% CI: 1.6-5.7) times higher odds of having good diabetic dietary knowledge than those with informal education. While patients who had good knowledge and a positive attitude were respectively 4.7 (95% CI: 2.4-8.9) and 3.2 (95% CI: 1.5-6.7) times more likely to follow dietary recommendations than the patients with poor knowledge and negative attitudes. Conclusion: Irrespective of the socio-demographic position, the good knowledge and the positive attitude towards the rec- ommended diet, all the T2DM patients complied with the dietary recommendations. These findings highlight the need for improving knowledge and promoting positive attitudes towards the recommended diet among T2DM patients. Keywords: Dietary knowledge; type 2 diabetes mellitus; Sudan.

Background: Female circumcision (FC) is a widespread practice that is carried out on young girls between the ages of 5 and 10 years, it is not a religious obligation required by known religions. It is practiced mainly in Africa and in some Asian countries. Methods: A cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted in Ombada province, with objectives to assess knowledge, attitudes and practices among mothers towards female circumcision. Results: Three-hundred-and-sixty-eight - questionnaires were returned. The mean age of the mothers participated in study was (32±11.9) years, (51.0%) of them had formal education and (84.5%) were Muslim. All mothers knew female circumcision, (80.2%) of them affirmed that it is still practiced in their society. The significant reasons why FC persistent practice were; to insure virginity, compliance religious instructions, avoid social stigma, good for prospective marriages, with proportion of (52.2%), (32.9%), (10.2%) and (4.7%), respectively. The majority of mothers were known its health consequences, (85.0%) of mothers knew that female circumcision it can be eradicated through increasing mother’s awareness (68.0%). The attitude of mothers towards (FC) was negative attitude (71.5%) i.e. encouraging it. The negative attitudes were associated with marriage prospective (29.7%), safeguard virginity (27.4%), religious instructions (19.0%), husband pleasure (11.4%), removal of genitalia dirtiness (5.7%), and tradition practice (5.3%). Whereas Type I, clitoridectomy (Sauna) the most preferred type by mothers (43.9%). Conclusions: Mothers participating in the study aware about FC While, the practice and negative attitudes is still persistent among mothers in northern Sudan, supported by religious, culture, social, tradition and misconceptions.

Background:Food taboos are known in different human societies in respect to harmful, beneficial and optimal food requirements, which is necessary for pregnant women to get successful reproductive outcome. These beliefs may or may not conform to the modern biomedical notion for the standard types and amount of foods needed for pregnant women to safeguard maternal nutrition, adequate for the fetus and safe delivery. This is a descriptive cross-sectional health centers based study. The aim was to study food taboos among pregnant women attending antenatal clinic in health centers in Khartoum State. Methods: The study population covered pregnant women of (n = 331) attending the selected health centers over a period of two months (March – April-2016). Data were collected using questionnaire and analyzed using SPSS version 16. The associations between different variables were checked using Chi-Square, and P. value < 0.05 was considered significant. Results:The study revealed that 43.8% of the pregnant women refused to eat some types of food during pregnancy, 65.5% avoided eating red meat, 29% avoided eating eggs, 23.4% avoided eating white meat and 36.5% avoided drinking milk.64.1% of the pregnant women refrained to eat some types of food during pregnancy for personal reasons as 46.2% due to morning sickness, 17.2% for nausea, 3.2% for allergy and 3.2% for vomiting. 35.9% of the pregnant women refrained from eating some types of food for community reasons. 67.3% avoided eating certain foods during pregnancy because they cause difficulties during labour, 15.4% believe that it may cause disease to the pregnant women. 41.1% of the pregnant women have heard that availability of certain foods is preferred not to be eaten during pregnancy as a social norm.36% of the pregnant women preferred to take specific types of foods during pregnancy as 51.3% preferred to take milk and 42% preferred eating fruits. The study showed a statistical association between refraining from eating certain foods during pregnancy among pregnant women and the residential area (P=0.000), also the study showed a statistical association between refraining from eating certain foods during pregnancy among pregnant women and their educational level (P=0.000). Conclusion:The study concluded that a large group of the pregnant women refrained to eat certain foods during pregnancy due to food taboos, personal and community reasons. The study recommends nutritional education to correct wrong beliefs among pregnant women.&nbsp