Sickle cell disease and asthma, both underdiagnosed, significantly impact health outcomes in low- and middle-income countries. Children with sickle cell disease have a high prevalence of asthma, which increases their risk of severe complications such as acute chest syndrome and death. This project will validate, in Kenyan children with sickle cell disease, an asthma screening survey which was developed and tested in the United States. Researchers will also develop and pilot a community-based asthma education program in partnership with local stakeholders to improve asthma awareness and care.

Conducted in collaboration with the Sickle Cell Uhuru Trust and the Kenya Ministry of Health, the study combines survey validation with community engagement to create culturally appropriate, place-based educational materials. The project aims to generate critical data on asthma prevalence and outcomes in this vulnerable population while building a sustainable framework for future asthma screening and education interventions in Kenya.

“The research tackles a major health gap in a high-risk group that’s been poorly understood and overlooked. It can lead to real change — better diagnosis of asthma, better care, and better lives for kids with sickle cell (sickle cell warriors) in Kenya,” says Principal Investigator Jean Lee, MD, a postdoctoral scholar in the Department of Pediatrics, Division of Pediatric Pulmonology, Stanford University School of Medicine.

Principal Investigators:

Christine Ngaruiya, MD, MSc, DTM&H – Associate Professor, Department of Emergency Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine; Faculty Fellow, Stanford Center for Innovation in Global Health (CIGH); Faculty Fellow, Stanford King Center on Global Development

Jean Lee, MD – Postdoctoral Scholar, Department of Pediatrics, Division of Pediatric Pulmonology, Stanford University School of Medicine

Research Team:

Dr. Godfrey Allan Otieno, Pediatrician & Clinical Research Scientist, Project Lead – Sickle Cell Uhuru Trust, Pediatrician, Clinical Research; Scientist at KEMRI – Walter Reed Project

Eunice Achieng’ Owino, Founder & CEO, Sickle Cell Uhuru Trust, Social Entrepreneur & Global Advocate for Sickle Cell Disease, Rotarian, Board of Director SFK

Dr. Gladwell Gathecha, Public Health Specialist & Advisory Board Member, Sickle Cell Uhuru Trust, Medical Epidemiologist, Ag. Head Division of Non-communicable Diseases, Health Systems Strengthening

Dr. Yvette Kisaka, Pediatric Hematologist & Scientific Team Member, Sickle Cell Uhuru Trust, Health Systems Strengthening, Health Policy & Strategy, Global Health, NCDs Prevention and Control, Project Planning & Management; Technical Lead: Sickle Cell and Cardiovascular Diseases at MOH-Kenya

Funder:

Stanford Department of Emergency Medicine