Aim: To investigate the ethnic differences in 
knowledge on own diabetes disease and self
management in Assyrian/Syrian-born and Swedish
born patients in Swedish town. 
Methods: This cross-sectional, questionnaire
based study was conducted at four Primary Health 
Care Centers in the Swedish town of Sodertalje. A 
total of 304 persons (167 ethnic Assyrians/Syrians 
and 137 ethnic Swedes) participated. Unconditional 
logistic regression was used to analyse the 
association between low knowledge level, ethnicity 
and all other explanatory variables.

Results: The total prevalence of low knowledge 
on own disease was 35.6%, with significant ethnic 
differences, 53.2% among Assyrian/Syrians vs. 
17.8% among Swedish-born. In the final model, 
regardless of adjustment for explanatory variables, 
the odds ratio (OR) for low knowledge in Assyrian
Syrian-born patients was more than seven times 
higher than in Swedish-born patients, OR 7.4 (95% 
CI 3.83–14.50). For those on dietary treatment 
only, the adjusted OR for having low knowledge 
compared to those on pharmacological treatment 
was 1.9 (95% CI 1.00–3.83), while patients   diagnosed after 60 years of age  showed lower 
odds ratio for poor knowledge, adjusted OR 0.34. 
Conclusion: 
Assyrian/Syrians 
showed 
significantly lower knowledge on diabetes, which 
could affect self-care and metabolic control, with 
increased risk of complications and lower quality 
of life.