Causes of Death in South Africa 19972001

1

• Causes of Death in South Africa 1997-2001
• Advance release of recorded causes of death
• Launch Presentation
• 21 November 2002

2
Outline of presentation

• Introduction
• Data methods
• Key findings
• Leading causes of death (levels and trends)
• Differentials (gender, age, population group)
• Conclusion

3
Introduction

• Last report on causes of death was for 1996
• Statistics SA published release on recorded
  deaths
• Based on data from Population Register
• For the period 1997 to 2000
• Release observed rising number of deaths
• Did not identify the causes contributing to
  increase
• Call from President for information on causes of
  death among South Africans

4
Aims of the present study

• Complement the earlier reports
• Identify leading underlying causes of death for
  period 1997-2001
• Identify emerging cause of death trends
  patterns during the period

5
Data methods

• Based on 12 stratified random sample
• Death notification forms from DHA
• For period 1997-2001
• To expedite release of information on causes of
  death
• 279 581 records processed instead of over
  2million
• Methodology consistent with international
  practice
• Study based on notification forms completed by
  medical practitioner certifying death
• Coding consistent with WHO rules (ICD-10)
• Quality of data determined by physicians

6
Leading underlying causes of death for both males
and females, 1997-2001

• Unspecified unnatural causes (11)
• Ill-defined causes of death (8)
• Tuberculosis (8)
• HIV (7)
• Influenza and pneumonia (6)
• Account for 41 of deaths
•  

7
Percentage of deaths due to the leading
underlying causes by year of death,1997-2001
8
Changing importance of leading underlying causes
of deaths for both males and females, 1997 2001
9
Differential patterns of underlying causes of
death

• Gender differentials
• Age differentials
• Differentials by population group

10
Percentage distribution of deaths due to leading
underlying causes by gender,1997-2001
11
Changing importance in the leading underlying
causes of male deaths, 1997 2001
12
Changing importance of the leading underlying
causes of female deaths, 1997 2001
13
Age differentials in leading underlying causes
of death

• Population younger than 15
• Leading underlying cause of death intestinal
  infections (15.4 of male 16.1 of female
  deaths)
• Increased proportion of deaths due to HIV and
  Influenza and pneumonia as underlying cause
• Malnutrition is important underlying cause of
  death
• Seventh leading cause of death
• Accounted for 7 of male deaths
• Accounted for 6 of female deaths

14

Male deaths due to the leading underlying
causes of death by age, 1997-2001
15

Female deaths due to the leading underlying
causes by age, 1997-2001
16
Mortality differentials in the older ages

• Population aged 50 and older
• Patterns of underlying causes of death are unique
• Degenerative diseases major cause
• Four common leading underlying causes of death
  for males and females are
• Cerebrovascular
• Ischaemic heart disease
• Other heart diseases
• General symptoms signs
• Account for 41 of female and 31 of male deaths
  
• Diabetes among the 5 leading causes for females
• Ill-defined causes among the 5 leading causes for
  males

17

Male deaths due to the eight leading underlying
causes, by population group, 1997-2001
18

Female deaths due to eight leading underlying
causes, by population group,1997-2001
19
Conclusion

• Changing underlying mortality patterns over time
• Differential effects of the changes by
• Gender, Age Population Group
• Unspecified unnatural causes dominate
• Emergence of different underlying causes of death
• HIV, TB, and Influenza pneumonia
• Women more likely to die from HIV
• Decline in unspecified unnatural causes
• Offset by sharp increase in other underlying
  causes (HIV, TB, and influenza pneumonia)
• Results have implication for policy