ABSTRACT
Malaria is a major global health problem; more than 50 percent of the world's population is exposed to the disease. An exact assessment of the extent of malaria's health burden is fraught with formidable challenges. The disease is estimated to cause 300–500 million episodes of acute illness and 1.1–2.7 million deaths worldwide every year. More than 90 percent of the world's malaria burden is in Africa. Malaria takes its greatest toll on young children and pregnant women. At least 20 percent of all childhood deaths in Sub-Saharan Africa can be attributed to the disease. Pregnant women are at great risk of malaria infection and may suffer a range of complications from anemia to cerebral malaria. These complications also affect the survival and development of their newborns.
