SA dismal in adult male mortality rate

THE probability of a 15year-old South African dying before he or she reaches 60 is more likely than in most other African countries.

New research found that out of 35 selected African countries, South Africa fared the worst in average adult male mortality rate and was 32nd in female mortality, according to a media release from the South African Institute of Race Relations.

This information was released in its latest South African Survey.

The survey, an annual yearbook on all social, economic, and political aspects of South Africa, has been published by the institute for nearly 70 years.

Data was obtained by the institute from the World Bank’s 2013 World Development Indicators.

According to the survey, in 2013/14 South Africa would spend R137.7 billion in consolidated national and provincial health expenditure.

The institute said South Africa and the DRC spent about 9 percent of their gross domestic product (GDP) on health, while Mozambique spent 7 percent. The South African economy was larger than those of these and other countries.

A researcher at the institute, Thuthukani Ndebele, said: “South Africa’s male and female average adult mortality rates are up to 10 times higher than in some emerging and developed countries. “South Africa’s high adult mortality rates testify to the negative effects of HIV/Aids and that high health expenditure may not necessarily translate into positive outcomes.”

The survey said that HIV/Aids had been accepted as a major contributor to high mortality rates but the leading reasons for death in South Africa were tuberculosis and flu or pneumonia.

“However, deaths owing to these diseases are on the decrease. Between 2004 and 2010, tuberculosis and influenza and pneumonia as causes of death decreased by 10 percent and 14 percent respectively,” said Ndebele. – Staff Writer