All-cause mortality trends in Dikgale, rural South Africa, 1996-2003.
OBJECTIVE
The Dikgale Demographic Surveillance System (DDSS) site, established in 1995, is one of three rural surveillance sites in South Africa. This paper describes detailed mortality patterns of a rural African population in the central region of Limpopo Province.


METHODS
These data were based on yearly household visits to collect data on vital events, covering 63, 873 person-years of observation over eight years.


RESULTS
Crude mortality was 7.5 per 1,000 person-years (females: 6.9, males: 8.1). Under-1 year and under-5 years mortality was 15.1 and 5.8 per 1,000 person-years, respectively. Life expectancy at birth was 64.3 years (females: 68.1, males: 60.0). For the two four-year periods (1996-9 and 2000-3) under-20 years mortality risk decreased (rate ratio=0.45, 95% CI: 0.25 to 0.80) while 20-49 years mortality risk increased (rate ratio=1.55, 95% CI: 1.10 to 2.20). Multivariate mortality risk for migrants remained relatively constant (0.71, 95% CI: 0.54 to 0.94) across the two four-year periods, but has increased 2.5-fold in all DDSS +50 year-old adults across the two four-year periods.


CONCLUSIONS
The DDSS mortality estimates appear to have remained relatively constant while recent mortality estimates for the Agincourt Demographic and Health Surveillance System (ADHSS) site suggest that mortality risk is higher and life expectancy is lower in ADHSS residents. Moreover, DDSS mortality estimates are substantially more favourable compared with provincial and national mortality estimates.
Cook
Ian
I
Department of Kinesiology, University of Limpopo (Turfloop Campus), Sovenga, South Africa. ianc@ul.ac.za
Alberts
Marianne
M
Burger
Sandy
S
Byass
Peter
P
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002423:Cause of Death; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004196:Disease Outbreaks / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000401:mortality; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007226:Infant Mortality; D008017:Life Expectancy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009026:Mortality; D011159:Population Surveillance; D012307:Risk Factors; D012424:Rural Population / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D017678:Sex Distribution; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013019:South Africa / Q000453:epidemiology