Congratulations on PhD
Angela Obongo’s doctoral thesis examines factors from the perspectives of the health system and policy that influence access to and utilisation of gestational diabetes services in Kenya. For the thesis, empirical data was collected in Kenya and analysed qualitatively and quantitatively through a postcolonial lens.
The key finding is that access to care for gestational diabetes remains limited due to low awareness, limited screening capacity, weaknesses in the supply chain, and financial and geographical barriers, with women in rural areas and those on low incomes being the most severely affected.
Despite advances in healthcare over recent decades, significant structural and systemic barriers—some of which have historical roots—continue to hinder access to care. These include financial constraints, resource scarcity and allocation, weak data systems, inconsistent protocols and a shortage of skilled personnel. Strengthening the early detection and treatment of gestational diabetes requires prioritisation in policy, the improvement of data systems and the involvement of communities in regional and participatory development.
The doctoral thesis was supervised by Prof. Dr. Jacob Spallek (BTU, Department of Health Sciences) and Prof. Dr. Christine Färber (†). The external examiner was Prof. Dr. Hajo Zeeb (Leibniz Institute for Prevention Research and Epidemiology – BIPS, Bremen) and the chair of the doctoral committee was Prof. Dr. Christian Kopkow.
The study protocol was published in the journal BMJ Open
We wish Angela Obongo all the best in her future academic and personal endeavours.
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