Bad hygiene blamed for child diarrhoea deaths
29 July 2010, 16:00
By Sipokazi Maposa
Health Writer
At least 37 children, all younger than five, died of diarrhoea in the province's hospitals last summer.
The provincial health department has blamed inadequate hygiene and poor sanitation for the spread of the rotavirus that caused severe gastroenteritis in small children.
Faiza Steyn, spokesperson for the department, said the deaths occurred between October and May, a period referred to by those in the medical profession as diarrhoea season.
The figures relating to diarrhoea deaths were the same as the previous financial year but Steyn said incidence of diarrhoea had significantly decreased.
In 2005 over 100 children died of diarrhoea in the Western Cape.
"There was a significant decrease in the number of cases of diarrhoeal disease during 2009/2010 compared to the previous year at primary health care facilities. At hospital level there was an 11% reduction in the number of diarrhoeal disease cases that were admitted in 2009/2010 compared to the previous year.
"The areas with the highest burden of disease are those with informal settlements, mostly because of the poor infrastructure regarding water and sanitation," she said.
Her sentiments were echoed in findings published in the South African Child Gauge 2009/2010, which reported that 80 percent of children who died were younger than five.
It said neonatal complications in the first 28 days of life, HIV and childhood infections such as diarrhoea and lower respiratory infections, were the leading causes of death in children younger than five.
Child health researchers, who wrote the latest annual review, said South Africa was still lagging far behind in achieving the development targets aimed at ensuring children's rights to survival, health and development.
The country has a mortality rate of 67 for every 1 000 live births compared to 1990 when it was 56 for every 1 000 births.
The Millennium Development Goals (MDG) target is only 20 deaths for every 1 000 live births.
The development goals are eight targets that all United Nations member states and more than 20 international organisations have agreed to achieve by 2015. They include reducing extreme poverty and child mortality rates, fighting disease epidemics such as Aids, and developing a global partnership for development.
The Child Gauge also identified inadequate sanitation and a poor water supply, poor hygiene practices and exposure to other environmental risk factors such as poorly ventilated and overcrowded living spaces, as risk factors for infectious diseases.
Researchers also blamed deteriorating health systems, particularly at community and district level, for the lack of progress in child health. They found there was little or no community-based maternal and child health services away from the clinics, especially in rural areas.
But Steyn said both provincial and city health authorities were working hard to ensure that living conditions were improved.
Health Writer
At least 37 children, all younger than five, died of diarrhoea in the province's hospitals last summer.
The provincial health department has blamed inadequate hygiene and poor sanitation for the spread of the rotavirus that caused severe gastroenteritis in small children.
Faiza Steyn, spokesperson for the department, said the deaths occurred between October and May, a period referred to by those in the medical profession as diarrhoea season.
The figures relating to diarrhoea deaths were the same as the previous financial year but Steyn said incidence of diarrhoea had significantly decreased.
In 2005 over 100 children died of diarrhoea in the Western Cape.
"There was a significant decrease in the number of cases of diarrhoeal disease during 2009/2010 compared to the previous year at primary health care facilities. At hospital level there was an 11% reduction in the number of diarrhoeal disease cases that were admitted in 2009/2010 compared to the previous year.
"The areas with the highest burden of disease are those with informal settlements, mostly because of the poor infrastructure regarding water and sanitation," she said.
Her sentiments were echoed in findings published in the South African Child Gauge 2009/2010, which reported that 80 percent of children who died were younger than five.
It said neonatal complications in the first 28 days of life, HIV and childhood infections such as diarrhoea and lower respiratory infections, were the leading causes of death in children younger than five.
Child health researchers, who wrote the latest annual review, said South Africa was still lagging far behind in achieving the development targets aimed at ensuring children's rights to survival, health and development.
The country has a mortality rate of 67 for every 1 000 live births compared to 1990 when it was 56 for every 1 000 births.
The Millennium Development Goals (MDG) target is only 20 deaths for every 1 000 live births.
The development goals are eight targets that all United Nations member states and more than 20 international organisations have agreed to achieve by 2015. They include reducing extreme poverty and child mortality rates, fighting disease epidemics such as Aids, and developing a global partnership for development.
The Child Gauge also identified inadequate sanitation and a poor water supply, poor hygiene practices and exposure to other environmental risk factors such as poorly ventilated and overcrowded living spaces, as risk factors for infectious diseases.
Researchers also blamed deteriorating health systems, particularly at community and district level, for the lack of progress in child health. They found there was little or no community-based maternal and child health services away from the clinics, especially in rural areas.
But Steyn said both provincial and city health authorities were working hard to ensure that living conditions were improved.
- This article was originally published on page 8 of The Cape Argus on July 29, 2010
