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

Beginning with the legacy of colonial rule, this 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 that continue to have a devastating impact on the region, including Sickle Cell Disease, HIV/AIDS, Leprosy, and Ebola. The final section of this book includes a series of case studies in which 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.