Youth Mortality Due to HIV/AIDS in South Africa; 2001-2009: An Analysis of the Levels of Mortality Using Life Table Techniques

ABSTRACT

South Africa has one of the highest HIV/AIDS prevalence rates in the world. It is estimated that 5.38 million South Africans are living with HIV/AIDS. In addition; new infections among adults aged 15+ were reportedly 316 900 in 2011. New infections among children (0-14 years old) was also high in 2011 at 63 600. This paper examines South Africa's mortality due to HIV/AIDS among the youth (15-34 years old). This age group is of fundamental importance to the economic and social development of the country. However; the challenges of youth development remain vast and incomparable. One of these challenges is the impact of HIV/AIDS on mortality. Life table techniques are used to estimate among others; sex differentials in death rates for the youth population; probability of dying from HIV/AIDS before the age of 35 and life expectancy should HIV/AIDS be eradicated from the population. The study used data from the National Registry of Deaths; as collated by Statistics South Africa from 2001 to 2009. Results show that youth mortality due to HIV/AIDS has remained consistently higher among older youths than in younger ones. By sex; mortality due to this cause has also remained consistent over the period; with mortality due to HIV/AIDS being higher among females than males. Cause-specific mortality rates and proportional mortality ratios reflect the increased mortality of older youth (especially 30-34 years old) and females within the South African population. Probability of dying from HIV/AIDS shows that over the period; fluctuations in likelihood of mortality have occurred; but for both males and females (of all age groups) the chances of dying from this cause decreased in 2007-2009