Makerere University School of Public Health@MakSPH
Research probes link between maize farming and malaria risk in Uganda
A joint study by @Makerere University School of Public Health and @OpenUniversity is examining whether maize cultivation near homes may be contributing to malaria risk in Uganda, as growing evidence links livelihoods and everyday economic activities to disease transmission. The research was advanced during a stakeholder workshop held on April 15 in Kololo, bringing together researchers, policymakers, and practitioners to explore how agricultural practices are shaping malaria patterns in both rural and urban settings.
Building on earlier findings that farming, livestock keeping, and night-time work influence exposure, the study points to maize cultivation as a potential driver of increased mosquito density around households. With malaria remaining a leading cause of illness and death in Uganda despite sustained control efforts, the research signals a shift toward understanding how livelihoods, environment, and daily activities intersect to sustain transmission, and what this means for designing more effective, context-specific interventions.
Read the full story: sph.mak.ac.ug/research-probe…
