Public Health, Disease and Development in Africa

As countries are affected by changes to populations, environments, and economics they also experience changes in terms of health threats. Using the revised epidemiological and nutrition transition framework, this book explores the future challenges to health in Africa. Using case studies it interrogates the dual burden of communicable and non-communicable diseases in Africa and the obstacles posed by rising risk-factors in a continent with weak healthcare infrastructure and, in cases, a lack of financial resources. With contributions from an interdisciplinary team of experts the perspectives will help shape the wider discourse on tackling major public health issues in the future.

The closure of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) in 2015 prompted the need for a book of this kind. An interdisciplinary group of global health scholars contribute to the understanding of the emerging and fast-growing problem of the dual burden of communicable and non-communicable diseases (NCDs) in Africa.

This book is timely, as the international community has moved from the MDGs to adopt the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) as the blueprint for a new human development agenda. Contributions and case studies are situated in the revised Epidemiologic and Nutrition Transition Model to capture the current situation, referencing communicable and NCDs on the African continent. The case studies encapsulated aim to help minimize negative health outcomes and improve population health, well-being, and equity in the future.

This book will be significant in policy circles to assist international organizations, governments, and United Nations agencies. It aims to chart the future for health in Africa in light of recently adopted SDGs. This book is also a useful complementary reader for global public health related courses.