AROUSE

The AROUSE Study (Assessment of Sexual Dysfunction and Its Impact on Quality of Life Among People Living with Diabetes in Kenya) is a multi-site, cross-sectional study examining the prevalence and effects of sexual dysfunction among adults with diabetes. Although common, sexual dysfunction remains underdiagnosed and often overlooked in routine diabetes care, particularly in Kenya. This study aims to assess how sexual health issues impact the quality of life for both men and women with diabetes and to identify gender-specific risk factors. Conducted in both public and private health facilities, the study will include 804 participants and will use clinical and self-reported data to explore the relationship between diabetes and sexual health. Findings from AROUSE will contribute valuable evidence to support more holistic and patient-centered care models that recognize sexual health as an essential component of diabetes management.

In the AROUSE Study, we serve as Co-Principal Investigator, lead data manager, and research mentor for a cohort of consultant physicians affiliated with the Kenya Diabetes Study Group (KDSG). Our contributions encompass full-cycle research leadership, including protocol development, ethical oversight, and field coordination. We designed and implemented the REDCap-based data capture systems and are responsible for data integrity, monitoring, and reporting. Additionally, we are mentoring the KDSG team in core areas of research methodology, statistical analysis, and academic writing. This study is structured as a research platform that will support the publication of at least 20 scientific papers, each focusing on clinically relevant questions derived from the dataset. Our leadership in AROUSE not only ensures methodological excellence but also builds national research capacity in diabetes care, advancing both evidence-based practice and local scientific authorship.