See also: » 07.12.2009 - SA urged to improve health care for migrants » 05.11.2009 - South African mortality crisis overcome » 24.10.2008 - SA recalls White Rabbit sweets » 18.07.2008 - Mandela frowns at gap between rich and poor » 04.02.2008 - Tunisian doctors due in SA » 23.10.2007 - South African scientists will rise to Gates' challenge » 03.09.2007 - Row over South African minister’s health turns sour » 28.05.2004 - Brain drain: "Europe poaching African healthcare workers" Houlihan's coupons

Finn autentiske matoppskrifter fra hele verden på Verdensmat.no: Gazpacho Børek Kartoffelsalat Taboulé Gulasj Albóndigas Cevapi Rougaille Japrak sarma Zwiebelbrot Klopse Giouvetsi Paella Pljeskavica Pica pau Pulpo a la gallega Flammkuchen Langosj Tapenade Chatsjapuri Pasulj Lassi Kartoffelpuffer Tortilla Raznjici Knödel Lentejas Bœuf bourguignon Korianderchutney Brenneslesuppe Proia Sæbsi kavurma Sardinske calamares

Autentiske matoppskrifter fra hele verden finner du på Verdensmat.no: Réunion Portugal Aserbajdsjan Serbia Tyskland Seychellene Bosnia Spania Libanon Belgia India Kroatia Hellas Italia Ungarn Komorene Georgia Mauritius Østerrike Romania Frankrike

Emergency reception at Gauteng hospital, South Africa

© Gauteng Health Dept/afrol News

afrol News, 18 November - New statistics show that South Africa's declining life expectation turned already in 2005, with mortality rates for both sexes decreasing since that. Better HIV/AIDS treatment may be the cause.

Statistics South Africa (SSA) today released its newest mortality data for the country, demonstrating that the negative trends widely attributed to the AIDS pandemic turned already in 2005. Indeed, the entire Southern African region had seen a dramatically declining life expectancy since the pandemic struck.

However, in South Africa, life expectancy since 2005 has been increasing. As SSA today published its detailed mortality statistics for the country in 2008 in a 100-page report, it was clear that the positive trend is accelerating.

"The number of deaths decreased by 1.6 percent between 2006 and 2007 and by 1.8 percent between 2007 and 2008," according to the SSA report. The strongest decline in deaths during the year had been among South African women.

For the median age of death of South Africans, the lowering mortality rate is having a major impact. Data go back to 1997, as life expectancy was already declining. Then, the typical South African died at 51.2 years. The median age of death sank dramatically until 2004, getting as low as 42.4 year. Since that, it has been rising, to 44.9 years in 2008.

Also striking is the distribution of sexes in South Africa's mortality. In the peak years of abnormal mortality rates, 2002-2005, women had higher mortality rates than men. Until 2007, South African women even died younger than men. In 2008, however, the globally normal trend is again returning to South Africa, with women having a longer life expectancy than men.

Somewhat surprisingly, the SSA report does not immediately support the obvious theory that better AIDS treatment in the country had led to this d

Median ages at death in South Africa 1997-2007 (male: yellow; female: orange)

© Stats SA/afrol News

ecline in mortality. Actually, the number of deaths attributed to HIV/AIDS in death certificates increased markedly from 2007 to 2008.

Causes of death, as reported by medical staff in standard "death notification forms", in 2008 showed that the main group of registered death causes was "certain infectious and parasitic diseases, responsible for about a quarter (26.4 percent) of all deaths." This group includes tuberculosis, influenza and pneumonia, HIV and "other viral diseases".

While the SSA report does not analyse these seemingly confusing data, sticking strictly to the official causes of death as reported by South African medical staff. Other sources however repeatedly have pointed to the HIV/AIDS "taboo" among the population, which will lead many medics to report other causes of death than AIDS in respect of the diseases and his or her family.

Tuberculosis, for example, is a disease often developed by HIV infected, and can easily be registered as the cause of death instead of HIV/AIDS. Strikingly, tuberculosis is the main cause of death among South Africans, with "influenza and pneumonia" ranking second.

These two causes of death saw the largest reduction in numbers from 2007 to 2008, accounting for more than half of the declining mortality in the period. Much of these numbers may be attributed to better AIDS treatment in South Africa.

The "increase" in deaths related to HIV/AIDS from 2007 to 2008 could also be explained by society becoming increasingly open about the "taboo" disease. However, strikingly, HIV/AIDS is only listed as a top-ten cause of death among children in 2008; not among adults.

By staff writers

© afrol News

Tweet

Printable version

On the Afrol News front page now

Rwanda

Rwanda succeeds including citizens in formal financial sector afrol News - It is called "financial inclusion", and it is a key government policy in Rwanda. The goal is that, by 2020, 90 percent of the population is to have and actively use bank accounts. And in only four years, financial inclusion has doubled in Rwanda. Read more

Famine warning: "South Sudan is imploding" afrol News - The UN's humanitarian agencies now warn about a devastating famine in Sudan and especially in South Sudan, where the situation is said to be "imploding". Relief officials are appealing to donors to urgently fund life-saving activities in the two countries. Read more

Guinea

Panic in West Africa after Ebola outbreak in Guinea afrol News - Fear is spreading all over West Africa after the health ministry in Guinea confirmed the first Ebola outbreak in this part of Africa. According to official numbers, at least 86 are infected and 59 are dead as a result of this very contagious disease. Read more

Ethiopia

Ethiopia tightens its already strict anti-gay laws afrol News - It is already a crime being homosexual in Ethiopia, but parliament is now making sure the anti-gay laws will be applied in practical life. No pardoning of gays will be allowed in future, but activist fear this only is a signal of further repression being prepared. Read more

Ethiopia

Ethiopia plans Africa's biggest dam afrol News / Africa Renewal - Ethiopia's ambitious plan to build a US$ 4.2 billion dam in the Benishangul-Gumuz region, 40 km from its border with Sudan, is expected to provide 6,000 megawatts of electricity, enough for its population plus some excess it can sell to neighbouring countries. Read more