ACCISS Study Focus Groups Summary | September 2026 | Download PDF
Between 2024 and 2026, four linked qualitative and mixed-methods studies examined the lived experience of people living with type 1 diabetes across Kyrgyzstan (lead by Health Policy Analysis Center (HPAC)), Tanzania (led by Tanzania NCD Alliance (TANCDA)), Mali (led by Santé Diabète), and Peru (lead by CRONICAS). As part of the Addressing the Challenge and Constraints of Insulin Sources and Supply (ACCISS) Study, these studies aimed to better understand the systemic challenges and support needs of people living with type 1 diabetes and to co-create feasible, community-endorsed solutions in partnership with affected individuals, caregivers, healthcare providers, and key stakeholders. This initiative builds on evidence previously gathered by country partners to improve access to insulin, supplies and care. Since 2018, ACCISS partners have created an evidence-base of nationally-specific data and interventions that aim to improve access to insulin and care across the supply chain.
To carry out these focus groups, partners used various participatory methods that were determined to be most appropriate in their contexts, including group discussions, in-depth interviews, and stakeholder or co-creation workshops. These methodologies were designed based on lessons learned from previous experience of a focus group project to develop a Target Product Profile for self-monitoring blood glucose devices in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), carried out by ACCISS Study and FIND.
These focus groups included people with type 1 diabetes, caregivers and health care professionals.
In this summary document, you will find out more about how each of the studies was approached in the four different contexts, and the main findings of the discussions. Read the full ACCISS Study focus groups summary here (opens in PDF).
Or visit the Access to Insulin Toolkit to learn more about each of the countries: https://accisstoolkit.haiweb.org/monitoring-access-to-insulin/dataset_country/