Epidemiological Change and Chronic Disease in Sub-Saharan Africa

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Epidemiological Change and Chronic Disease in Sub-Saharan Africa presents critical perspectives on the rising incidence of non-communicable and chronic conditions in the region. Contributors from diverse fields, including history, social anthropology, public health, and social epidemiology, provide insights from various African contexts, challenging traditional epidemiological transition theory and proposing alternative understandings of these changes. The book is structured into three sections: ‘Beyond Transition,’ ‘Numbers and Categories,’ and ‘Local Biologies and Knowledge Systems.’ It explores a wide array of topics, such as maternal mortality trends in East Africa, the smoking epidemic, the history of sugar consumption in South Africa, and the interplay between infectious and non-communicable diseases in Ghana and Belize. Additionally, it examines the complex relationships between adult hypertension and pediatric HIV in Botswana, alongside narratives from cancer patients and their families seeking treatment in Kenya. Overall, this volume draws on historical and contemporary African experiences to provide fresh insights into the evolving epidemiology of sub-Saharan Africa, moving beyond conventional transition theories. It will be valuable for students and researchers in Global Health, Medical Anthropology, Public Health, and those interested in African Studies.