Healthcare and Socio-economic Impacts of COVID-19 on Patients with Diabetes in Selected Counties in Kenya, GECO-Kenya

The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in socioeconomic hardships and disrupted healthcare for people with type 2 diabetes (T2D) particularly in sub-Saharan Africa. The project aims to explore the experiences of people with T2D and healthcare providers on managing T2D during COVID-19.

Methods
This is a mixed methods cross-sectional study which will be delivered through five interrelated work packages (WPs). In WP1 we will administer questionnaires (N=500) and in-depth interviews (N=30) to T2D patients to explore their experiences of healthcare access, and T2D self-management, socio-economic challenges and knowledge, attitude and practices related to COVID-19 in rural and urban Kenya. WP2 will use a desk review and field research on individual and societal economic burden of T2D. WP3 will explore the perspectives of local healthcare providers (N=30) on T2D management during COVID-19. WP4 will analyze policy landscape using desk review and key informant interviews to identify policy gaps and action for T2D during the pandemic. WP5 will synthesize evidence from WPs1-4 to develop policy recommendations and health education messages for T2D management during COVID-19 using a multi-stage participatory process. Quantitative analysis will determine differences between rural and urban settings using descriptive statistics and a hierarchical modelling using WHO framework on social determinants of health and wellbeing will be employed to explore factors associated with care disruption. A thematic content analysis will be used for qualitative data. For policy analysis Walt and Gilson's policy triangle framework, will be used.