Deaths in South Africa are on the increase, with 590 000 in 2005 — 3,3% up on the previous year, according to Statistics South Africa (Stats SA) figures on mortality and causes of death.
”The overall number of deaths shows a continuous increase from 1997 to 2005,” Stats SA said in a statement on Thursday.
Tuberculosis (TB), influenza and pneumonia and intestinal infectious diseases were the three main underlying natural causes of death in 2005. Most people died in KwaZulu-Natal, followed by Gauteng, while the fewest deaths were in the Northern Cape.
Stats SA said the majority of deaths were of children under four years old and of adults between 30 and 34 years. More men died than women, except in the 20-to-34, 70-to-74 and over-90 age groups.
”Furthermore, the rate of increase in the number of deaths between 2004 and 2005 was higher for females than for males,” Stats SA said.
It found that most deaths were from natural causes and that the top 10 of these remained the same as in 2004. ”The diseases that showed higher increases in the number of deaths between 2004 and 2005 were human immunodeficiency virus [HIV] disease and diabetes mellitus.
”Diabetes mellitus was the sixth leading cause of natural death, while HIV disease was the 10th.”
Diseases of the lower respiratory tract as well as ischaemic heart disorders were among the 10 leading natural causes of death of men, while HIV and hypertension were among the top 10 of women.
”With the exception of Free State and Limpopo, the leading natural cause of death for all provinces was TB. Influenza and pneumonia were the leading causes of natural deaths in Free State and Limpopo.”
Stats SA said non-natural deaths were on the decrease. These were dominated by transport accidents and assault, and affected mainly males between five and 29 years of age. — Sapa