Sub-Saharan Africa and The Heart of Africa: A brief introduction

Africa is a large and diverse continent. For example, Sub-Saharan Africa (a major focus of this book) comprises 49 countries that are fully or partially located south of the Sahara Desert. Politically, it can be distinguished from North Africa, which is considered part of the Arab world [1]. Somalia, Djibouti, Comoros, and Mauritania belong geographically to Sub-Saharan Africa but are also part of the Arab world [2]. Africa’s population currently sits at approximately 1.1 billion and this is expected to rise to 2.4 billion by 2050 [3]. More than 40% of the population comprises children and adolescents (<15 years of age) [4].

Reflective of its diversity, we the editors have done our very best to highlight research and receive contributions from as many countries as possible. Figure 1 shows how successful we were in this respect, while highlighting how and where we might improve in the future, both in terms of inviting contributions and supporting new clinical and research initiatives in cardiovascular health.

Map of Africa, with different countries labeled and highlighted in the research.

Figure 1 The different African countries highlighted in the research.

Despite estimates indicating a declining trend in poverty in Africa as a whole, Sub-Saharan Africa remains one of the most impoverished regions in the world, with approximately 47% of the population living on less than US$0.25 per day [5]. In addition, the region is adversely impacted by a significant burden of disease, owing largely to its lack of access to clean water and insufficient health care resources. Strikingly, while Sub-Saharan Africa bears 25% of the world’s disease burden, it is home to only 3% of the global health workforce [6]. The two major infectious diseases plaguing Sub-Saharan Africa are malaria and HIV/AIDS. Malaria, an endemic illness in this region, accounts for the majority of cases worldwide [7]. Similarly, approximately 70% of all sufferers of HIV/AIDS worldwide are found in Sub-Saharan Africa [8]. However, recent advancements in education and prevention programs [9] as well as increases in the proportion of HIV-positive individuals receiving antiretroviral treatment [10] have led to 39% fewer AIDS-related deaths and a 33% reduction in HIV infections [8]. Although often associated with war, disease, famine, and poverty, Sub-Saharan Africa is one of the fastest developing regions in the world. It comprises six of the world’s ten fastest growing economies [11]. This rise in economic growth is primarily attributed to increases in investments to infrastructure and resources, advancements in the telecommunication industry, and a steady expenditure per household [12].

References

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  2. 2 Barakat H. The Arab World: Society, Culture, and State. University of California Press, 1993.
  3. 3 United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division. World Population Prospects: The 2006 Revision, Highlights, Working Paper No. ESA/P/WP.202. United Nations, 2007.
  4. 4 Central Intelligence Agency. The World Factbook 2008. Washington, DC: Central Intelligence Agency [accessed June 2015]. Available from: https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/download/download-2008/.
  5. 5 United Nations. The Millennium Development Goals Report 2012. New York: United Nations, 2012.
  6. 6 World Health Organization. World Health Report 2006: Working Together for Health. World Health Organization, 2006.
  7. 7 World Health Organization. Malaria Fact Sheet no. 94 2015 [accessed July 2015]. Available from: http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs094/en/.
  8. 8 United Nations. UN AIDS Fact Sheet 2014 [accessed July 2015]. Available from: http://www.unaids.org/en/resources/presscentre/factsheets/%23d.en.74010.
  9. 9 Desmond Tutu Foundation. Desmond Tutu Foundation: What We Do [accessed June 2015]. Available from: http://www.tutufoundationusa.org/what-we-do/.
  10. 10 The Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UN AIDS). Special Report: How Africa Turned AIDS Around. United Nations. 2013.
  11. 11 Africa's impressive growth. The Economist. 6 Jan 2011.
  12. 12 The World Bank. Africa’s Growth Set to Reach 5.2 percent in 2014 with Strong Investment Growth and Household Spending [press release]. 7 April 2014.