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Abstract
Diabetes with a prevalence rate as high as 2.2% - 12.2% in Kenya, is similar to that of Western countries and can no longer be considered a Western disease. Diabetes and other non-communicable diseases (NCD) are leading causes of death worldwide. Therefore, early detection and prevention programs are imperative, although the focus by many decision makers is in communicable diseases in Sub-Sahara Africa. This study used cost benefit analysis to compare the benefits and costs of introducing a diabetes prevention program in rural Kenya. The willingness to pay (WTP), a non-market valuation technique, was used to assess the benefits of a five-year diabetes prevention program to the rural Kenyan residents, in monetary units. Program costs were obtained via interviews with Kenyan diabetes experts (2011$). Although the annual average WTP was US$ 6.86 per person, the program costs (US$94,526) exceeds the program benefits (US$32,939) resulting in a negative net social benefit (NSB) from the societal perspective. Health policy makers in Kenya may consider introducing such a program as part of a larger initiative on non-communicable disease prevention.