Forty years ago, the age-old battle against infectious diseases as a major threat to human health was believed close to being won. However, by the late twentieth century, the increase of emerging and reemerging infectious diseases was evident in both low and high income countries. About 30 new infectious diseases have been identified in the last 20 years. Among the "new" diseases, and most importantly, the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) epidemic, with 40 million persons infected and 25 million deaths since its first description, presents one of the most significant health, societal and security challenges facing the global community. The interaction of HIV/AIDS with tuberculosis, malaria and bacterial infections have increased HIV-related morbidity and mortality, and in turn, the HIV pandemic has brought about devastating increases in tuberculosis.

Understanding the population impact and the dynamics of infection diseases in the most affected region is critical to efforts to reduce the morbidity and mortality of such infections, and for decisions on where to use limited resources in the fight against infections.

This book aims to contribute to these efforts by offering a demographic and epidemiological perspective on emerging and reemerging infections in sub-Saharan Africa.

Trends and Diseases.- World Mortality 19502000: Divergence Replaces Convergence from the Late 1980s.- The Impact of Population Growth on the Epidemiology and Evolution of Infectious Diseases.- Why Child Mortality in Sub-Saharan Africa has Ceased Declining since the Early 1990s. The Example of Senegal, a Country where the Hiv Epidemic has Remained at a Low Level.- Malaria, Climate Change and Possible Impacts on Populations in Africa.- Economic Crisis and Changes in Mortality Due to Infectious and Parasitic Diseases in Antananarivo, Madagascar.- Economic and Ethical Aspects of Controlling Infectious Diseases.- HIV and its Impact.- HIV Infection in Young Adults in Africa: Context, Risks, and Opportunities for Prevention.- Sexual Behaviour Change, Marriage and HIV Prevalence in Zambia.- Migration, HIV/AIDS Knowledge, Perception of Risk and Condom Use in the Senegal River Valley.- HIV in Zimbabwe 19852003: Measurement, Trends and Impact.- The Impact of HIV Infection on Tuberculosis in Africa.- Impact of HIV on Mortality in Southern Africa: Evidence from Demographic Surveillance.- The Economic Impact of HIV/AIDS in Developing Countries: An End to Systematic Under-estimation.