South Africa’s infant mortality rate is considerably higher than many other countries which fall into the same income category and even higher than many countries that fall into a lower income group, the University of Cape Town said on Sunday.
It said that while the country had the financial resources necessary to decrease child deaths, it needed to examine why these resources were not reaching children in need, particularly those in rural areas.
”The organisation and delivery of the health system and other sectors that impact on health, such as social development, water, housing, transport and finance still have a long way to go towards improving child well-being,” the university’s Children’s Institute said in a statement.
Child Protection Week, which aims, among other things, to highlight the plight of abused children, will be officially launched by Housing and Acting Social Development Minister Brigitte Mabandla in Pretoria on Monday.
The institute said in a statement that child deaths were one of several important markers of a country’s progress in meeting its fundamental obligations to children.
It said that out of every 1 000 live births, 45 South African children were likely to die before their first birthday. Sixteen children out of every 1 000 live births were likely to die before reaching the age of five.
It said children aged less than one required greater attention because they were at a greater risk of dying compared to children aged between one and four.
Child deaths in the Eastern Cape, Free State, KwaZulu-Natal and Mpumalanga were consistently higher than the national average. Infant and under-five mortality rates were twice as high for the Eastern Cape compared to the Western Cape.
The institute said deaths in younger children were mainly due to causes relating to a lack of good quality health services and poor socio-economic living conditions. HIV was now one of the top 10 causes of deaths in all age categories.
It said that although accurate data on HIV-related deaths was not available, estimates indicated that many more deaths were due to HIV in all age groups, especially the under five age group.
”However, the method currently used to record the cause of deaths in South Africa makes it impossible to tell what children have died of.
”Deaths are also classified into large, relatively meaningless categories, again making it difficult to identify the exact causes of death. Also, important underlying causes of death are often not reflected, especially in the context of HIV,” it said.
The institute made a number of suggestions to decrease child deaths in the country.
At a Parliamentary level, a special enquiry should be held annually where child deaths and the underlying causes of deaths were examined and priorities made accordingly.
It said all health facilities should have a special audit to review all child deaths and ensure that procedures and protocols were put in place to minimise child deaths. Annual reviews through community health committees or equivalent structures could provide communities with the necessary tools to lobby for changes that could impact positively on the well-being of children within their communities.
The institute said that at relevant departmental levels, pregnant women and children’s health care needs had to be prioritised, adequate funding was needed for child health, and all children in need should have access to social security.
Basic amenities such as clean piped water, proper sanitation and safe places where children could play were also needed.
”The government as a whole must address the crisis of hunger and malnutrition, especially children in rural areas and those affected by HIV/Aids. Parents, caregivers and communities must ensure that homes are safe spaces for children by keeping harmful objects and substances out of the way,” it said. – Sapa