GCSE Geography Theme 7.2.2: Health and Care Issues in Sub-Saharan Africa

Health Issues in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA)

• SSA is the world's poorest region.
• Despite healthcare improvements during the Millennium Development Goals (2000–2015), it has the highest infant mortality rate (IMR).
• Health is a major issue for SSA because:
  • Unhealthy workforces are not economically productive.
  • High death rates from diseases like malaria and HIV/AIDS decrease the available workers.
  • An unhealthy population requires significant investment in healthcare.

Health Issues in Rural vs. Urban Areas

• Health issues are usually worse in many SSA countries since they have large rural populations.
• Rural populations are typically:
  • Poorer and cannot afford treatment.
  • Further from medical care.
  • Poorly educated about disease symptoms.
• In urban areas, health issues are more likely to be:
  • Sanitary diseases like cholera, typhus, and dysentery.
  • AIDS and HIV, spread through intercourse and more common in areas with higher population densities.

Malaria

• Malaria is prevalent in tropical areas within SSA.
• Malawi faces a significant issue with malaria.
• Proximity to lakes and water bodies increases malaria risk due to mosquito breeding grounds.
• Wet seasons in the tropics increase infections.
• In Malawi, 83% of people live in rural areas, making access to doctors difficult.
• The highest risk areas are near Lake Malawi and the flatlands in southern Malawi.
• Strategies to tackle malaria include:
  • ITNs (insecticide-treated nets).
  • Anti-malarial drugs.
  • Filling in swamp areas.
  • Insecticide sprays.

AIDS and HIV

• SSA is the region worst affected by HIV, which attacks the immune system and leads to AIDS.
• HIV typically affects people aged 16–55 but can affect babies born with the disease.
• How HIV spreads:
  • Contaminated blood.
  • Sexual intercourse.
  • Hereditary transmission.
• HIV and AIDS have a significant impact on the population:
  • Death of family members.
  • Fewer workers.
  • High costs for ARVs (anti-retroviral drugs).
• The disease is incurable but treatable with ARVs, which are often too expensive.
• Strategies to tackle HIV:
  • Education about safe sex and life choices.
  • ARVs.
  • NGO support to educate and provide free contraception.
  • This has led to a 67% decrease in HIV rates in Malawi.