Dependency, Urban Slums, and the Forgotten Plagues

Abstract

Tuberculosis (TB) and malaria remain leading causes of death in certain areas of the world system and directly contribute to persistent patterns in global inequality. I employ structural equation modeling for a sample of 135 nations to appropriately test for indirect and complex relationships among economic, social, and environmental indicators. The results demonstrate that economic dependency and environmental decline lead to increased urban slum populations in less developed nations, and that nations with larger urban slum populations have higher rates of TB and malaria. Important interrelationships also are evidenced among additional predictors, such as socio-health characteristics, economic development, and location in Sub-Saharan Africa. Overall, this research demonstrates that current epidemiological patterns in TB and malaria prevalence have important sociological underpinnings. Public policy should be directed toward addressing the social causes of these diseases, including improved access to schooling, health care, and other basic resources, especially in urban areas characterized by slum conditions.