Causes of Death in South Africa 1997-2001

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
Cause 1997 1997 2001 2001
Cause Rank Rank
Unspecified unnatural causes 15.3 1 8.2 4
Ill-defined causes 8.6 2 8.6 3
TB 6.5 3 9.7 1
HIV 4.6 4 8.7 2
Influenza pneumonia 4.5 5 7.9 5
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
97-01 Change 1997 1997 2001 2001
97-01 Change Rank Rank
TB 9.1 45 7.5 3 10.9 2
HIV 6.5 95 3.9 5 7.6 4
Influenza pneumonia 5.8 76 4.1 4 7.2 5
Ill-defined 8.2 1 8.5 2 8.6 3
Unnatural 15.6 -42 20.8 1 12.1 1
Total 45.2 41.8 46.4
12
Changing importance of the leading underlying
causes of female deaths, 1997 2001
97-01 Change 1997 1997 2001 2001
97-01 Change Rank Rank
TB 6.7 62 5.2 4 8.4 4
HIV 8.5 75 5.6 3 9.8 1
Influenza Pneumonia 6.9 71 5.1 5 8.7 2
Ill-defined 8.2 -1 8.7 1 8.6 3
Cerebrovascular 7.6 -6 7.9 2 7.4 5
Total 37.9 32.5 42.9
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

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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