The geographical inequalities in mortality in Africa

This paper reviews the progress that has been made in studies on geographic differentials of mortality in Africa. In general, there is very little known about adult mortality in many Third World countries, and the contributions of geographers have been limited in this area. In many African countries, enormous problems in studies on mortality were encountered due to incomplete and unreliable information. Differential levels of mortality are reported in different regions of the African continent and even within each country. Higher childhood mortality rates are recorded in West and Central Africa when compared with East and Southern Africa; relatively low rates are reported in the Magreb and the lowest in the small island territories. However, the role of geographic and environmental factors at both regional and urban levels are least exploited. Hence, many analyses of mortality in Africa have concentrated more on formal statistical materials and not on the realities of the existing ecological and environmental situation. The paper calls on geographers to exploit ways of utilizing the enormous clinic-based data in the continent. However, even more can be accomplished when geographers conduct interdisciplinary research on mortality in Africa.