Pretoria - The number of deaths in South Africa between 2010 and 2011 has decreased by 7.7%, according to a report released by Statistician-General Pali Lehohla.
Releasing the findings of the Mortality and Causes of Death in South Africa Report for 2011 on Tuesday, Lehohla said a total 505 803 deaths that occurred in 2011 were registered.
He attributed the decrease in the number of deaths to the massive government intervention to provide treatment to tuberculosis patients and people living with HIV.
“The downward trend observed since 2007 in the number of deaths occurring in the country per year continues. The number of deaths between 2010 and 2011 decreased by 7.7%, while during 2009–2010 and 2008–2009 the number of deaths decreased by 5.6% and 2.6%, respectively, which is an indication that the number of deaths are annually decreasing at an increasing rate,” he said.
Lehohla said the statistical release also provides information on trends in mortality and causes of death that occurred during the period 1997 to 2011.
The release is based on data collected by the Department of Home Affairs (DHA) through the death registration system. It is estimated that this system covered 94% of adult deaths in the country during 2007–2011.
The rate of decrease was much higher for females as opposed to males. Between 2010 and 2011, female deaths decreased by 8.2%, while male deaths decreased by 7.5%.
The increasing levels of mortality observed before 2007 were prominent among females.
“The increase in the number of deaths was also associated with increases in deaths due to communicable diseases particularly tuberculosis, influenza and pneumonia and intestinal infectious diseases, which have remained in the ten leading causes of death in the country since 1997,” said Lehohla.
The decrease in the number of deaths observed since 2007 has also been associated with decreases in tuberculosis, influenza and pneumonia and intestinal infectious diseases, more so amongst females.
“While these causes remain among the ten leading causes of death in the country, their relative importance in mortality is decreasing over time.
“However, among the ten leading causes of death due to communicable diseases, the proportion of deaths due to HIV disease continues to increase, although at a very slow pace (from 3.1% in 2009 to 3.4% in 2010),” he said.
In recent years, there has been a modest increase in the proportion of deaths due to specific non-communicable diseases.
Among the ten leading causes of death, the proportion of death due to the following causes increased: other forms of heart disease (particularly heart failure), cerebrovascular disease (largely stroke), diabetes mellitus, and hypertensive diseases.
The contribution of these diseases to the overall number of deaths in 2009 was 15.2% and increased to 17% in 2011. The proportion of deaths due to injuries also increased slightly from 8.7% in 2009 to 9.1% in 2011.
On a general note, the proportion of deaths due to certain infectious and parasitic diseases and respiratory diseases have declined, while there has been an increase in the proportion of deaths due to diseases of the circulatory system; neoplasms (cancers); endocrine, nutritional and metabolic disease; and external causes of morbidity and mortality.
On the one hand, there is clear indication that communicable diseases are decreasing in the country and that the force of mortality is reducing particularly for females. - SAnews.gov.za
