Browsing by Author "Norman, Rosana"

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    A comparative risk assessment for South Africa in 2000: Towards promoting health and preventing disease
    (2007) Norman, Rosana; Bradshaw, Debbie; Schneider, Michelle; Joubert, Jane; Groenewald, Pam; Lewin, Simon; Steyn, Krisela; Vos, Theo; Loubscher, Ria; Nannan, Nadine; Nojilana, Beatrice; Pieterse, Desiréé; the South African Comparative Risk Assessment Collaborating Group
    A landmark project of the Medical Research Council, the first South African National Burden of Disease (SA NBD) study, identified the underlying causes of premature mortality and morbidity experienced in South Africa in the year 2000. (1) These estimates were recently revised (2) on the basis of additional data to estimate the disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) for single causes for the first time in South Africa. DALYs are a comprehensive measure of the disease burden combining the years of life lost (YLLs) as a result of premature mortality and years lived with disability (YLDs) related to illness or injury. (3) Compared with the use of mortality as a measure of disease burden, DALYs also capture the contributions of conditions that do not result in large numbers of deaths. For example, mental health disorders have a large disability component relative to the number of deaths. The SA NBD study highlighted the fact that despite levels of uncertainty there is important information to guide public health responses to improve the health of the nation.
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    Open Access
    Estimating the burden of disease attributable to childhood and maternal undernutrition in South Africa in 2000
    (2007) Nannan, Nadine; Norman, Rosana; Hendricks, Michael; Dhansay, Muhammad A; Bradshaw, Debbie; South African Comparative Risk Assessment Collaborating Group
    Objectives. To estimate the disease burden attributable to being underweight as an indicator of undernutrition in children under 5 years of age and in pregnant women for the year 2000. Design. World Health Organization comparative risk assessment (CRA) methodology was followed. The 1999 National Food Consumption Survey prevalence of underweight classified in three low weight-for-age categories was compared with standard growth charts to estimate population-attributable fractions for mortality and morbidity outcomes, based on increased risk for each category and applied to revised burden of disease estimates for South Africa in 2000. Maternal underweight, leading to an increased risk of intra-uterine growth retardation and further risk of low birth weight (LBW), was also assessed using the approach adopted by the global assessment. Monte Carlo simulation-modelling techniques were used for the uncertainty analysis. Setting. South Africa. Subjects. Children under 5 years of age and pregnant women. Outcome measures. Mortality and disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) from protein- energy malnutrition and a fraction of those from diarrhoeal disease, pneumonia, malaria, other nonHIV/AIDS infectious and parasitic conditions in children aged 0 - 4 years, and LBW. Results. Among children under 5 years, 11.8% were underweight. In the same age group, 11 808 deaths (95% uncertainty interval 11 100 - 12 642) or 12.3% (95% uncertainty interval 11.5 - 13.1%) were attributable to being underweight. Protein-energy malnutrition contributed 44.7% and diarrhoeal disease 29.6% of the total attributable burden. Childhood and maternal underweight accounted for 2.7% (95% uncertainty interval 2.6 - 2.9%) of all DALYs in South Africa in 2000 and 10.8% (95% uncertainty interval 10.2 - 11.5%) of DALYs in children under 5. Conclusions. The study shows that reduction of the occurrence of underweight would have a substantial impact on child mortality, and also highlights the need to monitor this important indicator of child health.
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    Initial burden of disease estimates for South Africa, 2000
    (2003) Bradshaw, Debbie; Groenewald, Pam; Laubscher, Ria; Nannan, Nadine; Nojilana, Beatrice; Norman, Rosana; Pieterse, Desiréé; Schneider, Michelle; Bourne, David E; Ian M Timæus; Dorrington, Rob; Johnson, Leigh
    Background. This paper describes the first national burden of disease study for South Africa. The main focus is the burden due to premature mortality, i.e. years of life lost (YLLs). In addition, estimates of the burden contributed by morbidity, i.e. the years lived with disability (YLDs), are obtained to calculate disability-adjusted life years (DALYs); and the impact of AIDS on premature mortality in the year 2010 is assessed. Method. Owing to the rapid mortality transition and the lack of timely data, a modelling approach has been adopted. The total mortality for the year 2000 is estimated using a demographic and AIDS model. The non-AIDS cause-of-death profile is estimated using three sources of data: Statistics South Africa, the National Department of Home Affairs, and the National Injury Mortality Surveillance System. A ratio method is used to estimate the YLDs from the YLLestimates. Results. The top single cause of mortality burden was HIV/AIDS followed by homicide, tuberculosis, road traffic accidents and diarrhoea. HIV/AIDS accounted for 38% of total YLLs, which is proportionately higher for females (47%) than for males (33%). Pre-transitional diseases, usually associated with poverty and underdevelopment, accounted for 25%, non-communicable diseases 21% and injuries 16% of YLLs. The DALY estimates highlight the fact that mortality alone underestimates the burden of disease, especially with regard to unintentional injuries, respiratory disease, and nervous system, mental and sense organ disorders. The impact of HIV/AIDS is expected to more than double the burden of premature mortality by the year 2010 Conclusion. This study has drawn together data from a range of sources to develop coherent estimates of premature mortality by cause. South Africa is experiencing a quadruple burden of disease comprising the pre-transitional diseases, the emerging chronic diseases, injuries, and HIV/AIDS. Unless interventions that reduce morbidity and delay morbidity become widely available, the burden due to HIV/AIDS can be expected to grow very rapidly in the next few years. An improved base of information is needed to assess the morbidity impact more accurately
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    Strengthening public health in South Africa: building a stronger evidence base for improving the health of the nation
    (2007) Bradshaw, Debbie; Norman, Rosana; Lewin, Simon; Joubert, Jané; Schneider, Michelle; Nannan, Nadine; Groenewald, Pam; Laubscher, Ria; Matzopoulos, Richard; Nojilana, Beatrice; Pieterse, Desiréé; Steyn, Krisela
    An assessment of the relative burden attributable to selected risk factors provides an important evidence base for prioritising risk factors that should be targeted for public health interventions. Selecting interventions should be based on a robust and transparent process of scientific evaluations of their effectiveness, as well as assessment of their cost effectiveness, local applicability and appropriateness, and likely effects on health inequalities. Establishing such an evidence base is an ongoing process that is still at an early stage in South Africa. A recent review of disease control priorities for developing countries (DCPP) examined the global evidence regarding the effectiveness of interventions for major health burdens. Despite acknowledging the lack of intervention trials in developing countries, this DCPP review provides a unique resource for identifying interventions that might be useful in South Africa.