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Changes in public health in South Africa from 1876

Human Biochemistry Research Unit, Department of Tropical Diseases, School of Pathology of the University of the Witwatersrand and the South African Institute for Medical Research, PO Box 1038, Johannesburg 2000, South Africa

The present population in South Africa, roughly 43 million inhabitants, is made up of Africans (77.2%), whites (10.5%), Coloureds (mixed race) (8.8%) and Indians (2.5%). In 1900 the infant mortality rate (IMR) among Africans was 330 per 1,000 live births; this has now fallen to 50-60. In Soweto, a primarily African city, IMR averages 20-25. Life expectancy in the past was only 25-30 years; by 1995, this reached 63 years. However, this could fall again due to the rapidly spreading HIV/AIDS epidemic. Life expectancy could fall to 40-45 years by 2010 with the AIDS epidem ic being the cause of half of all deaths - a disastrous change from the pre vious relatively commendable public health situation. Formerly, the most common causes of deaths in young people were infections, diseases asso ciated with malnutrition and gastroenteritis. Adults died almost solely from infections, including typhoid, dysentery, malaria and tuberculosis (TB). Even though diseases associated with malnutrition are less com mon today, many infections still remain a major problem, particularly TB, which is increasing. As late as 1970, Africans who reached 50 years had longer life expectancy than whites due to the low prevalences of the chronic diseases of lifestyle. This is no longer so, due to the recent rises in non-communicable disorders/diseases, principally obesity in women, hypertension, diabetes, stroke and the cancers of prosperity. In the not so distant future, the level of control of HIV/AIDS related diseases will be the major health/disease regulating factor among Africans. Among white, Coloured and Indian populations, there have been falls in the mor tality rates of the young and, despite rises in lifestyle diseases, increases in life expectancy are continuing. For all populations other important pub lic health regulatory factors include water supply, sanitation, clinic/hospi tal services and personal environmental factors, employment, dietary pat tern and intake, smoking practices and alcohol consumption and physical activity, particularly in urban dwellers. Unfortunately, public health expen diture, also a highly regulating factor, has fallen from 8.2% of the gross domestic product in 1994 to 4.1% in 2000.

Key Words: Changes • health • history • ill-health • public health • South Africa

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