Qualitative studies conducted in Kenya reveal that there is still lack of awareness and understanding of dementia, and in some communities, there is either no local term for dementia (Musyimi et al., 2021; Njoki, 2018) or the one in existence is considered derogatory (Musyimi et al., 2019; C. W. Musyimi et al., 2021). Although not documented, it is expected that with increasing awareness, a proportion of the population in Kenya will shift from negative perceptions of dementia to less stigmatized and acceptable terms on dementia.

References:

Musyimi, C. W., Ndetei, D. M., Evans-Lacko, S., Oliveira, D., Mutunga, E., & Farina, N. (2021). Perceptions and experiences of dementia and its care in rural Kenya. Dementia.  https://doi.org/10.1177/14713012211014800

Musyimi, C., Mutunga, E., & Ndetei, D. (2019). Stigma and dementia care in Kenya: Strengthening Responses to Dementia in Developing Countries (STRiDE) Project. In World Alzheimer Report 2019: Attitudes to dementia (pp. 121–122). London, UK: Alzheimer’s Disease International. https://www.alzint.org/u/WorldAlzheimerReport2019.pdf

Njoki, M. (2018). Dementia in Africa: an exploration of Kenyan carers’ experiences supporting someone with dementia. https://dementia.stir.ac.uk/blogs/dementia-centred/2018-05-17/dementia-africa-exploration-kenyan-carers-experiences-supporting