Towards EQUITable Oncology: Identifying Needs and Designing Sustainable Interventions for Adolescents and Young Adults with Cancer in Sub-Saharan Africa (EQUIT-Study)

This project focuses on adolescents and young adults with cancer, a group whose distinct needs are often unmet because they are treated within either pediatric or adult services. Grounded in clinical observations from investigators at Kenyatta National Hospital and Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital, and developed through long-standing cancer care collaborations with the University of Michigan, the study assesses the specific needs of adolescent and young adult patients and the barriers to delivering age-appropriate care in the Kenyan setting. Combining quantitative surveys, nominal group technique sessions and interviews, the team pairs Kenyan clinical and contextual expertise with Michigan strengths in implementation science and mixed-methods design. The aim is to co-design feasible, sustainable interventions that improve the care experience and outcomes for young people with cancer in sub-Saharan Africa.