An Epidemiological Study of Natural Deaths in Limpopo

When the data is analysed, it shows that the younger people (30-44 years) in the population are dying. These deaths are due mainly to infectious diseases and parasitic disease such as tuberculosis, intestinal infections, HIV and malaria. Diseases of the respiratory as well as cardiovascular system feature predominantly among the young. The emergence of neoplastic conditions cannot be overlooked as all have profound impact on public health spending. Diabetes melllitus caused 67% of the deaths associated with endocrine, nutritional and metabolic disorders. A total of 10242 perinatal deaths occured during the study period and was associated with 363 maternal deaths.Congenital pneumonia was the common cause of perinatal deaths whereas oedema, proteinuria and hypertensive disorders in pregnancy, childbirth and the puerperium were the leading underlying causes of maternal deaths.