Malaria in Sub-Saharan Africa

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Malaria is blood disease caused by a parasite called Plasmodium. This disease occurs widely in poor, subtropical and tropical regions of the world. One subtropical region that has been greatly affected by this disease is Sub-Saharan Africa. According to Olowookere, Adeleke, Kuteyi, and Mbakwe (2013) malaria is one of the leading causes of death and illness in sub-Saharan Africa. It is important to be aware of the impacts this disease carries and how it has greatly affected millions of people. This paper will explain the impacts of Malaria and discuss, compare, and contrast the malaria research conducted by various researchers and reflect on the issue.
Many factors contribute to the high mortality from malaria in sub-Saharan Africa. One factor is the high transmission rates. The weather conditions in Africa greatly contribute to year round transmission. The Plasmodium parasite is transmitted through the bite of a small female insect called a mosquito or Anopheles gambiae. Plasmodium falciparum is one of the four species of the parasite transmitted that can cause severe malaria (Olowookere et al,. 2013). After transmitting this disease, a person may experience chills, fever, vomiting, and headaches. If malaria isn’t properly treated death can occur. This disease is more fatal to people with vulnerable immune systems, like young children or pregnant women.
Another factor of malarias high mortality rate is poverty. This disease afflicts the poor who live in areas where malaria is predominant. Africa is a poverty stricken region that lacks resources because of the economic instability. Because of this, many sub-Saharan countries in Africa are unable to keep up with cost of maintaining health clinics, providing vaccinations, and educ...

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... malaria morbidity and child mortality in sub-Saharan Africa. Malaria Journal, 12(1), 1-10. doi: 10.1186/1475-2875-12-62
Lim, S. S., Fullman, N., Stokes, A., Ravishankar, N., Masiye, F., Murray, C. J. L., & Gakidou, E. (2011). Net benefits: A multicountry analysis of observational data examining associations between insecticide-treated mosquito nets and health outcomes. PLoS Medicine, 8(9), 1-10. Retrieved from http://web.ebscohost.com.libaccess.sjlibrary.org/ehost/pdfviewer/pdfviewer?sid=df36b562-3ab3-4e11-be70-f6f45d49046e%40sessionmgr110&vid=15&hid=103
Olowookere, A. S., Adeleke, A. N., Abioye-Kuteyi, A. E., & Mbakwe, S. I. (2013). Use of insecticide treated net and malaria preventive education: Effect on malaria parasitemia among people living with AIDS in Nigeria, a cross-sectional study. Asia Pacific Family Medicine, 12(1), 2-7. doi: 10.1186/1447-056X-12-2

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