Dennis okova wearing a black half jacket

Okova Denis

Denis is an early career researcher based at the Division of health economics and African Awareness of Cancer & Early Diagnosis – (AWACAN-ED) Global Research Group, both based in the School of Public Health at the University of Cape Town.

He is currently doing a PhD in Health Economics working on topics related to the household economic costs and health-related quality of life outcomes for patients with cervical cancer in South Africa. Findings from this timely study will support early cervical cancer diagnosis initiatives as well as make a case for strengthening of social security for cancer patients. To further inform cancer policy in the continent, he is also working on two other projects. One is investigating inequalities in breast and cervical cancer screening in Africa. The other examines the cancer care continuum in South Africa across the health system functions and the Universal Health Coverage (UHC) processes.

In 2023, he graduated with a Master of Health Economics (cum laude) from the University of Cape Town having researched on the experiences and social determinants of sexual violence and post-sexual violence help-seeking behaviour among adolescents and young people in Kenya.

He also holds a Bachelor of Pharmacy from Kenyatta University, Kenya.

My publications

Current Projects

  • Social determinants of health and sexual violence experiences and post-violence help-seeking behaviour among adolescents and young people in Kenya.
  • Socioeconomic inequalities in breast and cervical cancer screening in Kenya
  • Household Economic Burden of Cervical cancer in LMICs: A systematic review
  • Psychosocial costs of cervical cancer among patients on treatment at a tertiary facility in Cape Town, South Africa
  • Health-related Quality of Life (HRQoL) and associated factors among cervical cancer patients receiving treatment at a tertiary facility in Cape Town, South Africa.
  • Financial toxicity due to Out-of-pocket spending among cervical cancer patients receiving treatment at a tertiary facility in Cape Town, South Africa.

Contact me

Feel free to contact me anytime. I will get back to you as soon as possible

Copyright © Denis Okova by Ian Okova.