The Palgrave Handbook of Religion, Health and Development in Africa

This book explains the context of disease, wellbeing and medical practices in Africa, and importantly, how these are influenced by religion (including African ways of belief), spirituality, and faith-based institutions, in relation to healthcare practices. By doing so the handbook explores both positive and negative roles of religion, spirituality, and faith-based institutions in individual and communal health. The book investigates how religion as a non-state agency drives the agenda for wellbeing, in the light of Africa having a disease burden of malaria, Tuberculosis, HIV, and sporadic pandemics such as Ebola and more recently, COVID-19. The book also takes a look at how African Indigenous Religions, Christianity, Islam, and other religions in Africa, continue to shape attitudes towards sexual and reproductive health and rights, particularly among adolescents, youth and women. It examines poverty as a major determinant of poor health in the continent, and how religion and religious institutions therefore play a crucial role in provision complementary and supplementary healthcare services. And ultimately shows how religion/faith-based institutions and health intersect, as well as how this intersection contributes to Africa’s and global development agenda.