scholarly journals A PARSIMONIOUS MODEL OF LONGEVITY, FERTILITY, HIV TRANSMISSION AND DEVELOPMENT

2019 ◽  
pp. 1-20 ◽  
Author(s):  
Luca Gori ◽  
Piero Manfredi ◽  
Mauro Sodini
Keyword(s):  
Foreign Aid ◽  
Hiv Transmission ◽  
Policy Issue ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
High Prevalence ◽  
Sub Saharan ◽  
Parsimonious Model ◽  
Pass Through ◽  
Macroeconomic Implications ◽  
Hiv Aids

A central policy issue in the battle against HIV in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) is whether and when high-prevalence countries might become autonomous in designing and implementing their own intervention policies against the disease. The aim of this research is twofold. First, it develops a framework for explaining economic development in a general equilibrium growth model with endogenous fertility and endogenous mortality forced by the threat of a persistent, deadly infectious disease, such as HIV/AIDS in SSA. Second, it aims to shed light on the interplay between foreign aid and endogenous domestic public policies in SSA countries severely afflicted by HIV. Consequently, it investigates the demographic and macroeconomic implications of an intervention against HIV/AIDS whose total amount is the sum of an exogenous component representing foreign aid and an endogenous public expenditure. On the assumption that these policies allow the same degree of HIV control, we show the emergence of quite different responses in terms of key demo-economic variables. These effects mainly pass through the fertility response to the evolving epidemic conditions.

Academic Analysis and U.S. Economic Assistance Policy on Africa

1990 ◽  
Vol 19 (1) ◽  
pp. 21-37
Author(s):  
Michael Bratton
Keyword(s):  
Foreign Aid ◽  
International Development ◽  
Policy Issue ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Economic Assistance ◽  
Agency For International Development ◽  
Sub Saharan ◽  
Aid Programs ◽  
Institutional Linkages ◽  
The U.S

Of all the policy issue areas that concern the U.S. government in its relations with Africa, economic assistance policy has attracted the deepest and widest involvement from U.S. university scholars. University-based analysts have enjoyed numerous avenues of access to officials who define, design, implement and evaluate U.S. foreign aid programs for sub-Saharan Africa. U.S. universities have stronger institutional linkages with the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) than with any other Washington institution discussed in this ISSUE, including the U.S. Congress and agencies within the the national security bureaucracy.

scholarly journals Why are Testing Rates so Low in Sub-Saharan Africa? Misconceptions and Strategic Behaviors

2013 ◽  
Vol 16 (1) ◽  
pp. 219-257 ◽  
Author(s):  
Olivier Sterck
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Access To Health Care ◽  
Hiv Transmission ◽  
Transmission Rate ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Aids Epidemic ◽  
Sub Saharan ◽  
The Cost ◽  
Dhs Surveys ◽  
Hiv Aids

Abstract Voluntary testing and counseling (VTC) is a popular method for fighting the HIV/AIDS epidemic. The purpose of VTC is to reduce the incidence of the virus in a two-fold manner. First, testing provides access to health care and antiretroviral therapies that diminish the transmission rate of the virus. Second, counseling encourages safer behavior for not only individuals who test HIV-negative and wish to avoid HIV/AIDS infection but also altruistic individuals who test HIV-positive and wish to protect their partners from becoming infected by HIV. Surprisingly, DHS surveys that were conducted in sub-Saharan Africa provide empirical evidence that testing services are underutilized. Moreover, it is rare for both partners in a couple to be tested for HIV. This paper proposes a theoretical model that indicates how misperceptions about the HIV/AIDS virus may explain these puzzles. More specifically, this study demonstrates that individuals who are at risk of HIV infection may act strategically to avoid the cost of testing if they overestimate the risk of HIV transmission or believe that health care is not required if HIV is asymptomatic. The correction of false beliefs and the promotion of self-testing are expected to increase HIV testing rates.

scholarly journals Multiple Mammarenaviruses Circulating in Angolan Rodents

Viruses ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (6) ◽  
pp. 982
Author(s):  
Jana Těšíková ◽  
Jarmila Krásová ◽  
Joëlle Goüy de Bellocq
Keyword(s):  
Geographical Area ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Virus Diversity ◽  
High Prevalence ◽  
Biogeographical Regions ◽  
Sub Saharan ◽  
Rodent Community ◽  
High Virus ◽  
Almost All ◽  
Virus Genomes

Rodents are a speciose group of mammals with strong zoonotic potential. Some parts of Africa are still underexplored for the occurrence of rodent-borne pathogens, despite this high potential. Angola is at the convergence of three major biogeographical regions of sub-Saharan Africa, each harbouring a specific rodent community. This rodent-rich area is, therefore, strategic for studying the diversity and evolution of rodent-borne viruses. In this study we examined 290 small mammals, almost all rodents, for the presence of mammarenavirus and hantavirus RNA. While no hantavirus was detected, we found three rodent species positive for distinct mammarenaviruses with a particularly high prevalence in Namaqua rock rats (Micaelamys namaquensis). We characterised four complete virus genomes, which showed typical mammarenavirus organisation. Phylogenetic and genetic distance analyses revealed: (i) the presence of a significantly divergent strain of Luna virus in Angolan representatives of the ubiquitous Natal multimammate mouse (Mastomys natalensis), (ii) a novel Okahandja-related virus associated with the Angolan lineage of Micaelamys namaquensis for which we propose the name Bitu virus (BITV) and (iii) the occurrence of a novel Mobala-like mammarenavirus in the grey-bellied pygmy mouse (Mus triton) for which we propose the name Kwanza virus (KWAV). This high virus diversity in a limited host sample size and in a relatively small geographical area supports the idea that Angola is a hotspot for mammarenavirus diversity.

scholarly journals Pandemics and Burden of Stroke and Epilepsy in Sub-Saharan Africa: Experience from a Longstanding Health Programme

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (5) ◽  
pp. 2766
Author(s):  
Massimo Leone ◽  
Fausto Ciccacci ◽  
Stefano Orlando ◽  
Sandro Petrolati ◽  
Giovanni Guidotti ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Neurological Disorders ◽  
Combined Treatment ◽  
Cerebrovascular Disorders ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Noncommunicable Diseases ◽  
People Living With Hiv ◽  
Sub Saharan ◽  
Health Programme ◽  
Excess Deaths ◽  
Hiv Aids

Eighty percent of people with stroke live in low- to middle-income nations, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) where stroke has increased by more than 100% in the last decades. More than one-third of all epilepsy−related deaths occur in SSA. HIV infection is a risk factor for neurological disorders, including stroke and epilepsy. The vast majority of the 38 million people living with HIV/AIDS are in SSA, and the burden of neurological disorders in SSA parallels that of HIV/AIDS. Local healthcare systems are weak. Many standalone HIV health centres have become a platform with combined treatment for both HIV and noncommunicable diseases (NCDs), as advised by the United Nations. The COVID-19 pandemic is overwhelming the fragile health systems in SSA, and it is feared it will provoke an upsurge of excess deaths due to the disruption of care for chronic diseases such as HIV, TB, hypertension, diabetes, and cerebrovascular disorders. Disease Relief through Excellent and Advanced Means (DREAM) is a health programme active since 2002 to prevent and treat HIV/AIDS and related disorders in 10 SSA countries. DREAM is scaling up management of NCDs, including neurologic disorders such as stroke and epilepsy. We described challenges and solutions to address disruption and excess deaths from these diseases during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document