Anthropologists in MalariaWorld.

The history of anthropological contributions to the study of malaria is reviewed in terms of three additive phases: (1) cultural-historical analyses; (2) applied work aimed at the improvement of malaria control programs; and (3) introduction of critical medical anthropological themes about malaria control. The critical approaches include themes of the cultural construction of reality—the definition of “malaria”; political-economic structures in health inequalities; and an emphasis on social factors as exemplified in the present special issue. The contemporary culture of malaria researchers and programs—called MalariaWorld—is described in terms of economy, social organization, and belief system. Five common features of articles in this special issue are described as unique anthropological features that are key for understanding MalariaWorld. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]