Differences in child mortality in rural South Africa

Nadine Nannan, Medical Research Council
Debbie Bradshaw, Medical Research Council
Kobus Herbst, Africa Center for Health and Population Studies

Many sub-Saharan African countries have seen reversals in child mortality trends that have been attributed to the HIV epidemic. Rural areas have higher child mortality rates than urban centers and KwaZulu Natal has the most advanced epidemic in the country. Child mortality data collected by the Africa Centre in northern KwaZulu Natal through its demographic surveillance system covering a population of over 89,000 registered individuals will be investigated for variations in levels of mortality to identify the age groups most affected by changes in an attempt to understand the impact of HIV/AIDS and other determinants of child mortality.