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Background Cervical cancer is a major health burden and the second most common cancer after breast cancer among women in Kenya. Worldwide, cervical cancer constitutes 3.1% of all cancer cases. Mortality rates are greatest in low-income countries owing to a lack of awareness, screening and early-detection programs, and adequate treatment facilities. We aimed to estimate survival rates and determine survival predictors among women with cervical cancer and limited resources in western Kenya. Methods We retrospectively reviewed the charts of women diagnosed with cervical cancer in the 2 years from the date of histologic diagnosis. The outcome of interest was 2-year mortality or survival. Kaplan–Meier survival estimates, log-rank tests, and Cox proportional hazards regression were used in the survival analysis. Results We included 162 women in this study. The median time from diagnosis to death was 0.8 (interquartile range [IQR] 0.3–1.6) years. The mean age at diagnosis was 50.6 (standard deviation [SD] 12.5) years. Mean parity was 5.9 (SD 2.6). Participants were followed up for 152.6 person-years. Of 162 women, 70 (43.2%) died, with an overall mortality rate of 45.9 deaths per 100 person-years of follow-up. The survival rate was significantly better for women who were managed surgically (0.44 vs. 0.88, p

Given shortages of health care providers and a rise in the number of people living with both communicable and non-communicable diseases, Community Health Workers (CHWs) are increasingly incorporated into health care programs. We sought to explore community perceptions of CHWs including perceptions of their roles in chronic disease management as part of the Academic Model Providing Access to Healthcare Program (AMPATH) in western Kenya. In depth interviews and focus group discussions were conducted between July 2012 and August 2013. Study participants were purposively sampled from three AMPATH sites: Chulaimbo, Teso and Turbo, and included patients within the AMPATH program receiving HIV, tuberculosis (TB), and hypertension (HTN) care, as well as caregivers of children with HIV, community leaders, and health care workers. Participants were asked to describe their perceptions of AMPATH CHWs, including identifying the various roles they play in engagement in care for chronic diseases including HIV, TB and HTN. Data was coded and various themes were identified. We organized the concepts and themes generated using the Andersen-Newman Framework of Health Services Utilization and considering CHWs as a potential enabling resource. A total of 207 participants including 110 individuals living with HIV (n = 50), TB (n = 39), or HTN (n = 21); 24 caregivers; 10 community leaders; and 34 healthcare providers participated. Participants identified several roles for CHWs including promoting primary care, encouraging testing, providing education and facilitating engagement in care. While various facilitating aspects of CHWs were uncovered, several barriers of CHW care were raised, including issues with training and confidentiality. Suggested resources to help CHWs improve their services were also described. Our findings suggest that CHWs can act as catalysts and role models by empowering members of their communities with increased knowledge and support.