This fascinating collection shines a social epidemiological spotlight onto the key public health issues effecting sub-Saharan Africa today.

Beginning with the legacy of colonial rule, the book outlines the complex interplay between population health and a range of social, economic and cultural factors. It shows how social epidemiological methods can offer a deeper understanding of population health, and features chapters on a range of infectious diseases which continue to have a devastating impact on the region, including Sickle Cell Disease, HIV /AIDS, Leprosy and Ebola. The final section of the book includes a series of case studies where social epidemiological methods have been used to explore specific public health issues.

Providing a timely overview of the relationship between social systems and human biology in the region, this important book will interest students and researchers across Public Health, Medicine and African Studies