A household framework for examining the social and economic consequences of tropical diseases

In spite of the fact that tropical diseases such as malaria and schistosomiasis are endemic in much of the world, little socioeconomic research has been conducted to provide planners and other policy-makers with a basis for understanding the behavioral implications of these diseases. This paper brings modern microeconomic theory to bear on an area of research which has lacked an adequate theoretical framework. It proposes to focus on the relationships between tropical diseases and their effects on the health status and functional capacity of the individual and ultimately on the social and economic performance of the individual household by using a broadly conceptualized new home economics framework. This paper not only presents factors to be considered in developing a conceptual framework, but also discusses research design and data considerations.