Health Minister to address the Health of Our Children Report launch

12 May 2010

Health Minister Dr Aaron Motsoaledi will on Thursday, 13 May address researchers, academics, healthcare workers and representatives of international organisations at the launch of the Health of Our Children Report in Cape Town.

The survey sample for the children's report comprised 8 966 children aged 0-18 and is nationally representative. Funded by the United States (US) Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, the survey looked into a number of aspects affecting children's health ranging from maternal health, feeding practices, risk factors for HIV among children under 12, risk environments for children to the use of healthcare services such as immunisation coverage.

Some key findings of the survey: The study found that 97 percent of pregnant mothers had accessed antenatal care during pregnancy and that nearly three-quarters (71.4 percent) had received antenatal services five times during pregnancy. Furthermore, during labour, the majority of mothers have had access to a trained birth attendant. On maternal death, the survey found that the most common causes of maternal deaths were hypertension, obstetric haemorrhage, pregnancy-related sepsis and pre-existing maternal diseases.

On child feeding, the survey found that mixed feeding was the most common method of feeding in South Africa with only 25.7 percent of babies exclusively breastfed, 22.5 percent exclusively formula-fed and 51 percent mixed-fed during their first six months.

Although breastfeeding increases the survival chances and the health of child by decreasing infant morbidity and mortality rates, it is still a major route of mother-to-child transmission of HIV. For this reason, formula feeding has been recommended in preventing HIV transmission from mother to her newborn through breast milk.

The survey further found that HIV prevalence among infants 0-2 years was 2.1 percent which is lower than the 3.3 percent average in the age group 0-4. This pattern could indicate a possible positive impact of the national prevention of PMTCT programme in the two years before the study took place.

In his address the Health Minister is expected to outline his department's plans to deal with child health (including mortality).

Members of the media are invited to attend the launch of the report scheduled to take place as follows:
Date: 13 May 2010
Time: 13h00
Venue: HSRC Cape Town (12 Floor, Plein Park Building, Plein Street)

For more information please contact:
Fidel Hadebe
Tel: 012 312 0663
Cell: 079 517 3333
E-mail: hadebf@health.gov.za

Issued by: Department of Health
12 May 2010