Active Diabetes, Hormones & Metabolism Public Health & Healthcare

Modelling the Health and Economic Impact of Scaling Up Diabetes Screening Strategies to Achieve the WHO Global Diabetes Compact Target for Diagnosis in Kenya:The Kenya Kisukari Model.

Funder Wellcome Charity-funded
Recipient organisation University of Sheffield
Funding Not disclosed
Period Oct 2025 — Sept 2028

In plain English

AI plain-English summary

In Kenya, roughly half of all adults with type 2 diabetes do not know they have it, and this PhD project will build a computer model to determine which screening strategies could change that. This matters because undiagnosed diabetes leads to severe complications—kidney failure, blindness, amputations—that hit patients and Kenya’s overstretched health system hard. The World Health Organization has set a target for timely diagnosis, but no one has yet modelled which screening approach would be most cost-effective and feasible for Kenya’s specific context. The researcher will first review diabetes screening programmes across Africa, then interview Kenyan policymakers and clinicians about what works on the ground. Using that data, they will build a mathematical and economic model that compares different screening strategies—for example, targeting high-risk groups versus population-wide testing—and estimates their impact on early diagnosis, health outcomes, and costs. If successful, the model will give Kenya’s Ministry of Health a practical, evidence-based tool to prioritise screening investments. The immediate impact is on policy, not patients’ daily lives, but better policy should mean fewer people discover their diabetes only after a crisis.

View original technical description
Type 2 diabetes is an escalating public health concern in Kenya, with a growing burden of undiagnosed cases leading to late presentation, complications, and increased healthcare costs. The World Health Organization’s Global Diabetes Compact (GDC) has set ambitious targets for timely diagnosis, yet progress in many low- and middle-income countries remains slow. This PhD project seeks to model the health and economic impact of scaling up diabetes screening strategies in Kenya to accelerate progress toward the GDC diagnostic target. The study will employ a combination of systematic evidence synthesis, stakeholder engagement, and decision-analytic modeling. First, a systematic review will identify and characterize diabetes screening interventions implemented in Africa. Second, a qualitative study will capture stakeholder perspectives on screening policies, barriers, and facilitators, with particular attention to the influence of the GDC. Third, a mathematical and economic model will be developed to evaluate different screening strategies, estimating their potential impact on early diagnosis, health outcomes, and cost-effectiveness. Findings will provide evidence to inform Kenyan policy and practice, supporting decision-makers to prioritize feasible, equitable, and cost-effective approaches to diabetes screening. Ultimately, the research aims to contribute to reducing the burden of undiagnosed diabetes and strengthening chronic disease prevention in Kenya.

View the original record at the funder ↗

Researchers

Catherine Odhiambo (EPMC Awardee)

Related Research

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Original classification

PhD Studentship (Basic)

Plain English summaries and category classifications on this site are generated by AI and may not perfectly reflect the original research.