Friday, January 9, 2026: 1:50 PM
Wilson Room (Palmer House Hilton)
Despite the significant impact of malaria on maternal mortality in Africa, the historical epidemiology of this relationship remains understudied. This research fills a critical gap in the historiography of colonial medicine, which has largely overlooked the experiences of pregnant women in urban informal settlements. By examining the intersections of human mobility, microbial transmission, and maternal mortality in Lagos, this study reveals the complex dynamics that shaped the epidemiology of malaria in West Africa.
Through a critical analysis of medical reports, demographic data, and oral histories, this research demonstrates how the rapid urbanisation of Lagos created new opportunities for malaria transmission, particularly among pregnant women in slums. The study also highlights the inadequacies of colonial public health policies, which prioritised the health of European colonisers over indigenous populations. By employing a historical epidemiological approach, this research provides a nuanced understanding of the social, economic, and environmental factors that contributed to the persistence of malaria in Lagos.
This study contributes to a deeper understanding of the historical context of malaria in Nigeria and informs strategies for reducing maternal mortality and improving public health outcomes in the region. By exploring the historical relationships between human mobility, microbial transmission, and maternal mortality, this research sheds new light on the complex dynamics that have shaped the epidemiology of malaria in West Africa, with significant implications for contemporary public health policy and practice.
Through a critical analysis of medical reports, demographic data, and oral histories, this research demonstrates how the rapid urbanisation of Lagos created new opportunities for malaria transmission, particularly among pregnant women in slums. The study also highlights the inadequacies of colonial public health policies, which prioritised the health of European colonisers over indigenous populations. By employing a historical epidemiological approach, this research provides a nuanced understanding of the social, economic, and environmental factors that contributed to the persistence of malaria in Lagos.
This study contributes to a deeper understanding of the historical context of malaria in Nigeria and informs strategies for reducing maternal mortality and improving public health outcomes in the region. By exploring the historical relationships between human mobility, microbial transmission, and maternal mortality, this research sheds new light on the complex dynamics that have shaped the epidemiology of malaria in West Africa, with significant implications for contemporary public health policy and practice.