Malaria is frequently referred to as a disease of the poor or a disease of poverty. A better understanding of the linkages between malaria and poverty is needed to guide the design of coherent and effective policies and tools to tackle malaria and poverty together. While recognising that there are a large number of dimensions of potential vulnerability to malaria that encompass social, demographic and geographic elements, the key focus of this work is on differences among socio-economic groups. The aim of this review was to document and review critically the evidence available on two key issues: malaria incidence or vulnerability to the effects of malaria by socio-economic status (SES); and the utilisation, effectiveness and accessibility of malaria control interventions by SES.[HEFP WP NO 01/03]