Malaria Country Context
Malaria remains a fact of life for billions of people around the world and is a leading cause of illness and death across sub-Saharan Africa, where it traps families in a vicious cycle of disease and poverty.
Benin’s entire population of about 11.2 million people is vulnerable to malaria, and it is the leading cause of mortality among children under five years of age and of morbidity in adults. While transmission is stable, it is influenced by several factors such as vector species, geography, climate and hydrography. The malaria parasite species Plasmodium falciparum causes the majority of infections.
Malaria continues to be a major public health problem in Benin, with an estimated 4.1 million cases and 7,300 deaths in 2018. About 40% of outpatient visits and 25% of all hospital admissions in the country are due to malaria. According to World Bank estimates, households in Benin spend approximately one-quarter of their annual income on the prevention and treatment of malaria, which places an enormous economic strain on the country.
Benin has made great strides in increasing IPTp uptake. The percentage of women who received at least two doses of IPTp during their last pregnancy reached 67% by 2017, up from only 23% in 2011. The WHO and the Benin Ministry of Health now recommend at least three doses of IPTp for pregnant women during antenatal care, so IM is supporting the country to find ways to further increase protection of women and their babies with at least three doses of IPTp.
This is PMI Impact Malaria’s geographic coverage in Benin:

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Photo Credit: Nathan Miller/PMI, Benin
Sources: PMI’s Benin Country Brief, PMI’s Benin Malaria Operational Plan FY 2020, 2019 World Malaria Report Benin Country Profile, Medical Care Development International USAID/PMI Accelerating the Reduction of Malaria Morbidity and Mortality (ARM3) Final Report, PMI Impact Malaria Benin, and Benin's NMCP