Dementia anti-stigma intervention in rural Kenya (DASI-K)

Evaluating the long-term effectiveness of a dementia anti-stigma initiative in rural Kenya delivered by community healthcare workers
Abstract African landscape with rivers and plains from above
 

Objectives

  1. Generate representative data on dementia stigma in Kenya. Much of the existing evidence on dementia stigma in this region comes from small qualitative studies. To develop effective, tailored interventions, it is crucial to understand who holds these beliefs and what they entail.
  2. Integrate findings into existing dementia anti-stigma interventions to better suit the needs of the Kenyan population.
  3. Confirm the sustainability of initial gains and assess behavioural changes over longer follow-up periods. While most anti-stigma interventions have been developed in high-income countries, preliminary evidence shows the short-term effectiveness of a culture-specific intervention created in Kenya. This study will follow-up on these interventions over longer periods.

Tackling dementia-related stigma is a critical international policy priority. Although the burden of this disease is expected to fall most heavily on low- and middle-income countries, there is currently limited empirical evidence on the effectiveness of stigma reduction initiatives in these regions.

In rural Kenya, dementia-related stigma profoundly impacts the lives of those affected, often leading to isolation and shame within their communities. The DASI-K project aims to provide robust evidence that dementia stigma can be sustainably reduced among the general public. 

Nicolas FarinaDr Nicolas Farina
Associate Professor in Dementia Research

Elderly African man sitting on a chair in a yard with a boy sitting behind him

Context of the issue

A significant number of older adults (approximately 258,000) in Kenya may be living with dementia. This number is expected to rise dramatically over time to an estimated 361,000 by 2050. However, there is limited knowledge on how dementia stigma manifests in Africa, particularly in the Kenyan context. In Kenya, research has found that people with dementia are often blamed for being "bewitched" or cursed and therefore do not receive support. Dementia is often seen as a result of normal ageing or "falling from grace", where someone of high status loses it. Depending on beliefs, people with dementia are viewed as either being punished or not needing formal support.

How the project addresses the issue

DASI-K will evaluate whether a community-led stigma reduction intervention, initially developed within STRiDE, can lead to sustained reductions in dementia stigma. To ensure this is empirically evaluated and validated, measures of dementia stigma will be culturally adapted for use in a Kenyan population.
 

Funding

Empowering lives, enriching communities

The University of Plymouth is at the forefront of advancing dementia research, with a focus on improving the support and quality of life of people with dementia and their carers.
We are a collaborative group of researchers and clinicians aiming to address the local and global challenges faced by those affected by dementia.
Laughing senior friends sitting together on a park bench