1. Disease and Mortality in Sub-Saharan Africa: Volume II
Need strategies that aim to improve the quality of survival in the 92-95% of
children now living beyond 5 years
Available data shows that severe mental retardation, visual impairment and hearing
impairment occur at significantly higher rates in SSA than in developed countries
A substantial portion of disability in SSA is preventable
Chapter 12:
Developmental Disabilities
Chapter 24: Mental Health, Alcohol and Substance Abuse
Most Common Mental Disorders
depression
schizophrenia
anxiety
alcohol abuse
disorders from conflict
AIDS-related disorders
gender-based violence disorders
Increasing Concerns
Alcohol abuse has increased sharply in SSA
Consumption of alcohol by children is on the rise
Rates of PTSD, anxiety and depression range
from 20-60% in areas affected by conflict
Most common forms include cerebral
palsy, mental retardation, epilepsy, peripheral
neuropathy, stroke and nervous system
complications from AIDS, trauma, and
alcohol abuse
Increasingly prevalent in SSA due to
malnutrition, adverse peri-natal conditions,
malaria, HIV/AIDS, demographic transitions,
increased vehicular traffic, and conflict
Highly disabling, responsible for a least
25% of the global burden of disease and an
even greater proportion of disability
The leading causes of SSA’s neurological
disorders are preventable and include
infections during pregnancy, neonatal
infections, and sequelae to the disorders that
cause high under-five mortality
Chapter 25:
Neurological Disorders