title: Placing a Health Equity Lens on Non-communicable Diseases in sub-Saharan Africa.
abstract: Deaths from non-communicable diseases are increasing worldwide. Low and middle-income countries, particularly those in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), are projected to see the most rapid increase over the next two decades. While non-communicable diseases such as diabetes and cardiovascular disease increasingly contribute to mortality in SSA, communicable diseases such as malaria and HIV/AIDS remain major causes of death in this region, leading to a double burden of disease. In this paper, we use World Health Organization data and life table techniques to: (1) delineate the magnitude and toll of the double burden of disease in four SSA countries: Ghana, Gabon, Botswana, and Kenya, and (2) scrutinize assumptions linking changes in disease patterns to economic development and modernization. Our findings suggest that non-communicable and communicable diseases warrant equal research attention and financial commitment in pursuit of health equity.
authors: Helena E
authors: HE
authors: Dagadu
authors: Evelyn J
authors: EJ
authors: Patterson
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017954:Africa South of the Sahara / Q000453:epidemiology; D000368:Aged; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002908:Chronic Disease / Q000453:epidemiology*; D003141:Communicable Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology*; D017281:Cost of Illness; D005260:Female; D000069576:Health Equity; D054624:Health Status Disparities; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D055815:Young Adult