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Since the turn of the century people in Africa have started to live longer while death rates have decreased significantly, especially in children under the age of five. But this improvement in overall health is threatened by the increase in non-communicable diseases - also known as lifestyle diseases. Charles Shey Wiysonge unpacks the findings of a Global Burden of Disease study that looks at trends in mortality and life expectancy
dating as far back as 1950.
During Kenya’s national school exams an alarming number of girls couldn’t take the tests because they were pregnant, or in labour. Michael Mutua examines the factors that have led to a high number of pregnant teens. These include a lack of sex education and conservative attitudes.
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The life expectancy improvements in sub-Saharan Africa vary between men and women.
Shutterstock
Charles Shey Wiysonge, South African Medical Research Council
The leading causes of death in sub-Saharan Africa for adults 15 to 49 years were AIDS, tuberculosis, malaria, maternal disorders, and road injuries.
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in Kenya, contraceptive use among teens has been consistently low.
Guzel Gashigullina/Shutterstock
Michael Mutua, African Population and Health Research Center
Teenage girls in Kenya who fall pregnant either drop out of school or risk unsafe abortions.
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Business + Economy
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Soraya Beukes, University of the Western Cape
Failure by South Africa's municipalities to provide housing for the poor violates a Constitutional Court ruling.
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From our international editions
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Simon Usherwood, University of Surrey
Expect more member states to 'do a Spain' once future relationship talks commence.
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Jeff Bachman, American University School of International Service
The Obama and Trump administrations have supported a military coalition that has inflicted profound and deadly damage on Yemen. A human rights scholar says the US is complicit in genocide.
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Katie Miles, Aberystwyth University
Mean annual air temperature on Everest is –13°C at 7,000 metres elevation, and yet the ice in its highest glacier is only –3.3°C.
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