The electrification-malaria nexus: the case of rural Uganda

Sub-Saharan countries are facing multiple simultaneous challenges that include the need to both increase access to electricity and combat morbidity and mortality caused by malaria. This study is the first to explore the nexus between electrification and malaria incidence using country-wide representative household-level data. The focus is on rural Uganda. Despite the fact that data used in this analysis come from a multi-topic survey and therefore do not include the ideal indicators for a malaria-related study, we do find evidence that household members having access to electricity are more likely to experience malaria. Our interpretation is that electric light attracts malaria vectors and that lifestyle changes associated with outdoor lighting increase human exposure to the vectors. Our findings suggest that the electrification process in Uganda should be complemented by anti-malaria strategies.