Tropical diseases and their impact on maternal and child health

Abstract

Over a quarter of the world’s population are at risk of parasitic infections. The majority of these infections are confined to the world’s poverty belt, which is largely in sub- Saharan Africa. Dangerous, debilitating and chronic infections add to the burden of people already disadvantaged by poverty. Women constitute over 67% of the total population of Africa, and they suffer the most from the effects of poverty. Thus, a focus on African women is vital. While HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria are well known, the so called “big three” with substantive efforts to prevent and control these infections in communities, there are many lesser known infections that cause persistent morbidity. “Neglected tropical diseases” (NTDs) are the tropical infections once the “big three” have been taken out.