Analysis of Impact of HIV/AIDS upon Deaths Certified at Mosvold Hospital; Ingwavuma; Northern KwaZulu-Natal from January 2003 June 2006 and Possible Effect of Anti-retroviral Roll-out Program

ABSTRACT

Mosvold Hospital is a government district hospital situated in northern KwaZulu-Natal; a province with an antenatal HIV prevalence of 39. A previous study indicated that 45of deaths certified at Mosvold Hospital were due to HIV/AIDS. The antiretroviral roll-out programme commenced at Mosvold Hospital on 16 September 2004. Results: Of the deaths between 2003 and 2006; 53 were certified as having HIV/AIDS as the underlying cause of death. Between 2003 and 2005 there was a significant reduction in the average age at death for males and females; with an increase in mortality in the zero to four years age group. In 2006 there was a significant increase in the average age at death of females compared to 2005; although this increase was not demonstrated to be due to an improvement in mortality from HIV/AIDS. Conclusion: HIV/AIDS continues to be the dominant public health concern in the sub-district. To date; public health measures such as the antiretroviral roll-out programme cannot be demonstrated to have affected mortality from the disease