The Effect Of HIV/AIDS Mortality On South Africa's Life Expectancy And Implications For The Elderly Population
Description:
The acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) is caused by the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Infection with the virus leads to the destruction of a person's immune system, making the victim highly susceptible to multiple infections and ultimately results in the inevitable death of the victim since there is no cure for AIDS (United Nations, 2001a; World Health Organization, 2001; UNAIDS, 2000). As at the end of 2000, 36.1 million people were living with HIV/AIDS, including 1.4 million children younger than 15 years. About 5 young people aged 15-24 years become infected with HIV every minute. Available evidence indicates that about 21 million people have died from AIDS, and that about 95 percent of worldwide AIDS cases occur in developing countries, with nearly 70 percent of all cases occurring in sub-Saharan Africa (United Nations, 2001a; 2001b; World Health Organization, 2001; UNAIDS, 2000). The alarming and saddening consequences of this catastrophe are many and varied, one of which is the rapidly increasing number of both orphaned children and grandparenting since Africa is currently home to 70 percent of the world's AIDS orphans (Phiri, 2001).
Research advances, funded through extraordinary investment in biomedical research, have resulted in effective treatments and a striking decrease in AIDS-related death rate in most developed countries. However, the toll in suffering and death in developing nations remains enormous and overshadows the epidemic in the developed world. Everyday, 14,500 people become infected, most of them in the developing countries; and in some African countries, between 25 and 35 percent of the adult population are infected (United Nations, 2001). The life expectancy in several African countries has decreased dramatically and has negated gains made during the past few decades on the pandemic.
The present study seeks to further raise awareness and expand knowledge about the deleterious effect of HIV/AIDS mortality on South Africa's life expectancy. Using the multiple and associated single decrement life table techniques, the study estimates the total number of South Africans who would die from HIV/AIDS by the time they reach age 75 from a hypothetical cohort of 100,000 live births, assuming that the mortality conditions of 1996 prevailed. The findings indicate that if the prevailing mortality conditions continued throughout their life span, about 9.1 percent of the population might eventually die from HIV/AIDS mortality by the time they attain age 75. Also, there is a tremendous gain in life expectancy to the tune of about 26 years that would result in the absence of HIV/AIDS. It is vital everything is done to bring about a substantial reduction in HIV/AIDS mortality in order to increase the country's life expectancy.
As full-blown AIDS is fatal, sociologically the main impact is felt by the survivors. Although the survivorsare considered as secondary victims, it is the survivors upon whom the full weight of sustaining a decimated, confused and demoralised community falls. The elderly persons, who are the grandmothers and grandfathers, are likely to be the most active persons to manage the family affairs in the event of the death of their adult children. This condition is likely to impoverish the elderly population.
Research advances, funded through extraordinary investment in biomedical research, have resulted in effective treatments and a striking decrease in AIDS-related death rate in most developed countries. However, the toll in suffering and death in developing nations remains enormous and overshadows the epidemic in the developed world. Everyday, 14,500 people become infected, most of them in the developing countries; and in some African countries, between 25 and 35 percent of the adult population are infected (United Nations, 2001). The life expectancy in several African countries has decreased dramatically and has negated gains made during the past few decades on the pandemic.
The present study seeks to further raise awareness and expand knowledge about the deleterious effect of HIV/AIDS mortality on South Africa's life expectancy. Using the multiple and associated single decrement life table techniques, the study estimates the total number of South Africans who would die from HIV/AIDS by the time they reach age 75 from a hypothetical cohort of 100,000 live births, assuming that the mortality conditions of 1996 prevailed. The findings indicate that if the prevailing mortality conditions continued throughout their life span, about 9.1 percent of the population might eventually die from HIV/AIDS mortality by the time they attain age 75. Also, there is a tremendous gain in life expectancy to the tune of about 26 years that would result in the absence of HIV/AIDS. It is vital everything is done to bring about a substantial reduction in HIV/AIDS mortality in order to increase the country's life expectancy.
As full-blown AIDS is fatal, sociologically the main impact is felt by the survivors. Although the survivorsare considered as secondary victims, it is the survivors upon whom the full weight of sustaining a decimated, confused and demoralised community falls. The elderly persons, who are the grandmothers and grandfathers, are likely to be the most active persons to manage the family affairs in the event of the death of their adult children. This condition is likely to impoverish the elderly population.