Socioeconomic Determinants of Malaria Persistence

Mwende Wairimu G.

School of Natural and Applied Sciences Kampala International University Uganda

ABSTRACT

Malaria remains one of the most devastating parasitic diseases globally, disproportionately affecting low- and middle-income countries, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa and parts of Asia. While biological and environmental factors are widely acknowledged in malaria transmission, socioeconomic determinants significantly influence its persistence and impact. Poverty, limited education, poor housing, inadequate healthcare access, cultural beliefs, and agricultural practices collectively sustain transmission cycles and exacerbate vulnerability. Income inequalities hinder access to preventive measures, education shapes awareness and adoption of interventions, and health system disparities dictate treatment outcomes. Environmental factors, urbanization trends, and climate change further interact with these socioeconomic conditions to sustain disease prevalence. The economic burden of malaria extends beyond healthcare costs to productivity losses, poverty entrenchment, and slowed national development. Evidence from case studies across Africa and beyond underscores the importance of integrating socioeconomic interventions into malaria control policies. Addressing malaria persistence requires holistic strategies that combine biomedical tools with social, economic, and governance reforms aimed at breaking the cycle of disease and poverty.

Keywords: Malaria persistence, socioeconomic determinants, Poverty and health inequality, Access to healthcare, and Economic impact.

CITE AS: Lasuba Joseph Chaplain, and Ampaire Wycliffe (2025). Socioeconomic Determinants of Malaria Persistence. Research Output Journal of Biological and Applied Science 5(3):94-104. https://doi.org/10.59298/ROJBAS/2025/5394104