Ethnographic study of Attitudes and Perceptions of Dementia in Kenya
Principal Investigator
Dr. Edna Bosire, BMI, AKU
Co – Investigators
Prof. Dilraj Sokhi, DOM, AKU, Dr. Karen Blackmon, BMI, AKU , Dr. Jasmit Shah, BMI, AKU , Dr. Zul Merali, BMI, AKU
Project Summary
Dementia, a condition that affects memory and cognitive abilities, is becoming more common in sub-Saharan Africa, including East Africa. However, there is limited information about dementia in this region, particularly in East Africa. One of the reasons for this lack of data is the absence of standardized and culturally appropriate tools to diagnose cognitive decline in dementia.
In addition, people in these communities may have misconceptions or resistance towards dementia, influenced by their social backgrounds, personal experiences, and cultural beliefs. There hasn't been much research on how these socio-cultural factors impact dementia in Kenya.
The main goal of this study is to understand the attitudes and perceptions towards dementia among three groups: (a) dementia patients, (b) their caregivers, and (c) healthcare providers at the Neurology clinic of Aga Khan University Hospital in Nairobi. The secondary objective is to explore the general population's understanding and knowledge of dementia in Nairobi, Kenya. It also aims to identify the factors that influence people's decisions to participate or not in dementia clinical research projects in Nairobi.
The findings of this research will help design a suitable investigation of dementia in a large group of approximately 100,000 participants in the Kaloleni-Kilifi cohort in Kilifi County, Kenya. This study will be carried out in collaboration with the Davos Alzheimer's Collaborative.
