Urbanization and international trade and investment policies as determinants of noncommunicable diseases in Sub-Saharan Africa
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Date
2013
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Elsevier
Abstract
There are three dominant globalization pathways affecting noncommunicable diseases in
Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA): urbanization, trade liberalization, and investment liberalization.
Urbanization carries potential health benefits due to improved access to an increased
variety of food imports, although for the growing number of urban poor, this has often
meant increased reliance on cheap, highly processed food commodities. Reduced barriers
to trade have eased the importation of such commodities, while investment liberalization
has increased corporate consolidation over global and domestic food chains. Higher profit
margins on processed foods have promoted the creation of ‘obesogenic’ environments,
which through progressively integrated global food systems have been increasingly
‘exported’ to developing nations. This article explores globalization processes, the food
environment, and dietary health outcomes in SSA through the use of trend analyses and
structural equation modelling. The findings are considered in the context of global barriers
and facilitators for healthy public policy.
Description
Keywords
Globalization, Urbanization, Trade and investment, Unhealthy diet, Noncommunicable disease
Citation
Schram, A. et al. (2013). Urbanization and international trade and investment policies as determinants of noncommunicable diseases in Sub-Saharan Africa. Progress in Cardiovascular Diseases, 56(3): 281 - 301