Sub-Saharan Africa

Sub-Saharan Africa has approximately 10 percent of the world's population, but bears 25 percent of the world's disease burden, within a context of increased poverty, food insecurity, indebtedness, poor economic performance, gender inequality, gender-based violence, conflicts, natural disasters, ignorance, fear, stigma, and discrimination. Among the area's numerous health challenges, HIV/AIDS, family planning, and malaria continue to impede development in the region. Sub-Saharan Africa carries the highest burden of HIV infections and HIV/AIDS-related mortality in the world. Fertility and future projected population growth are much higher in sub-Saharan Africa than in any other region of the world; however, an even larger percentage of women report having an “unmet need,” meaning that they would prefer to stop having children or delay their next birth, but are not ...