** It seems the hype is sent then followup pieces need to be written after the mythos has been promoted.

(In spite of the pressure to report increasing numbers of AIDS deaths "there was no significant increase in the number of deaths attributed

to HIV." )

BuaNews (Pretoria)

February 18, 2005

TB, Influenza and Pneumonia, Leading Causes of Death in SA

By Richard Mantu

Tuberculosis, influenza and pneumonia and cerebrovascular diseases, have emerged as the leading causes of death among South Africans, a

study by Statistics SA has shown.

The study, Mortality and Causes of Death in South Africa revealed

today that this emerged when Stats SA captured and coded approximately

three million death notification forms (DNF) received from the home

affairs department from 1997 to 2003.

The study revealed that the number of deaths increased by 57 % from

318 287 in 1997 to 499 268 in 2002.

However, the data for 2003 was not conclusive as there were

outstanding death forms.

TB claimed the lives of 25 640, 39 759 and 56 985 people in 1997, 1999

and 2001 respectively. Influenza and pneumonia claimed the lives of 24

698, 39 069 and 55 115 people in 1997, 1999 and 2001 respectively.

Cerebrovascular diseases killed 24 039, 28 218 and 31 104 in 1997,

1999 and 2001 respectively.

Other leading causes of death include other forms of heart disease,

diabetes mellitus, chronic lower respiratory diseases, Ischaemic heart

diseases, HIV, malignant neoplasm of the digestive organs, hypertensive

diseases, respiratory and cardio diseases and intestinal infectious

diseases.

The number of adult deaths (persons aged 15 years and above) increased

by 62 percent from 272 221 in 1997 to 441 029 in 2002.

Over the period 1997 to 2002, 53 percent of all deaths were male,

however, the proportion declined from about 56 percent in 1997 to about

51 percent in 2002.

The study also shows that persons between the ages 15 -19 are most

likely to die a non-natural death, while men are three times likely to

die a non-natural death than women.

In terms of HIV and AIDS, the pandemic claimed 6 602, 10 331 and 9 479

lives in 1997, 1999 and 2002 respectively.

Dr Liz Gavin, acting Deputy Director-General for population statistics

said judging by DNF, there was no significant increase in the number of

deaths attributed to HIV.

This, she said, was because "there's no obligation to record whether a

person died of HIV," as in many cases information was entered as part

of four other causes of death on the death notification forms.

Statistician General Pali Lehohla said the findings of the new study

conducted after the 2002 research which was based on a 12 percent

sample, was released taking cognisance of the fact that "we live in an

HIV and AIDS era."

He said data provided did not allow determination of HIV infections or

AIDS related mortality.

"To do this analysis of the data needs to be combined with other

sources of information, population projections and demographic

modelling," said Mr Lehohla.

He said the study revealed what was actually indicated on the death

notification forms.

KwaZulu-Natal emerged as the province with the most deaths with under

70 000 in 1997 reaching a high of almost 120 000 deaths in 2002.

Gauteng came second with under 70 000 deaths in 1997 to just under 100

000 in 2002.

Eastern Cape came in third, with other provinces registering deaths of

not over 41 000 in 2002, while the Northern Cape recorded the least

number of deaths - just under 20 000 since 1997 to 2002.