HIV, Covid shoot up Namibia’s death rate
A cause of death report released by the Namibia Statistics Agency (NSA) indicates that Namibia’s mortality rate increased between 2018 and 2021, with HIV-Aids and Covid-19 listed as the leading causes of death in the last two years of that period.
From 2018 to 2021, the number of deaths rose from 18 939 to 24 220. Generally, there were more male than female deaths, and more infant and elderly deaths.
In 2018, 18 972 deaths were recorded in Namibia, which increased the next year to 19 485. In 2020, this number decreased quite a bit to 18 100, while 2021 – which marked Namibia’s third and deadliest wave of Covid-19 – the number shot up to 24 220.
While HIV was generally the leading cause of death in the economically active group (aged 15 to 59) – resulting in 13.5% of deaths - Covid-19 dethroned it in 2021, and “was ranked as the first leading cause with 15.1%”.
“Most elderly (60+ years) died due to hypertensive disease [high blood pressure] with 17.6% in 2020, while in 2021, Covid-19 ranked as the leading cause of death with 25% [amongst this age group],” the report said.
Deadly winter, festive
Meanwhile, the report noted that the winter months of June, July and August, as well as the festive period in December, registered the highest number of deaths.
“Generally, most deaths in Namibia occur in the months of June, July, August and December, with a consistent pattern across the years 2018 to 2021.
"In 2021, more deaths, about 25%, were recorded in June and July when the Covid-19 pandemic was at its peak,” it read.
Children’s deaths
Diarrhoeal diseases accounted for the highest number of deaths in children, the report found.
“Diarrhoeal diseases accounted for the leading cause of death in children aged 0 to 4, followed by birth asphyxia and birth trauma (10.8%), prematurity and low birth weight (8.8%), lower respiratory infections (7%) and protein-energy malnutrition (4.7%).”
Older children generally succumbed to drowning, it added.
“The leading causes of death in children aged five to 14 was drowning’s at 11.1%, diarrhoeal diseases at 10.1%, road accidents (8.8%), protein-energy malnutrition (7.5%) and endocrine disorders (4.6%).
“Diarrhoeal diseases were ranked as the number-one leading cause of death for children under five in 2020 (11.9%) and 2021 (11.3%). The leading cause of death for children aged five to 14 in both 2020 and 2021 was drowning, with 13.2% and 11.1% respectively,” the report added.
Regional breakdown
On a regional basis, the Oshana Region recorded the highest crude death rates by region for 2021 (between 12% and 17.5%), followed by Khomas, Zambezi, Omaheke and Hardap respectively (between 10% and 11.9%).
Similarly, Oshana and Omaheke registered the highest infant mortality rates for 2021 (between 77.1% and 116.8%), followed by Zambezi, Kavango East, Otjozondjupa, Omusati and Hardap (between 63.1% and 77%).
Omaheke and Oshana recorded the highest under-five mortality in 2020, with rates ranging between 81 and 134.8 per 1 000 live births, while in 2021, Kavango East, Omaheke, Oshana, Otjozondjupa and Zambezi recorded the highest.
From 2018 to 2021, the number of deaths rose from 18 939 to 24 220. Generally, there were more male than female deaths, and more infant and elderly deaths.
In 2018, 18 972 deaths were recorded in Namibia, which increased the next year to 19 485. In 2020, this number decreased quite a bit to 18 100, while 2021 – which marked Namibia’s third and deadliest wave of Covid-19 – the number shot up to 24 220.
While HIV was generally the leading cause of death in the economically active group (aged 15 to 59) – resulting in 13.5% of deaths - Covid-19 dethroned it in 2021, and “was ranked as the first leading cause with 15.1%”.
“Most elderly (60+ years) died due to hypertensive disease [high blood pressure] with 17.6% in 2020, while in 2021, Covid-19 ranked as the leading cause of death with 25% [amongst this age group],” the report said.
Deadly winter, festive
Meanwhile, the report noted that the winter months of June, July and August, as well as the festive period in December, registered the highest number of deaths.
“Generally, most deaths in Namibia occur in the months of June, July, August and December, with a consistent pattern across the years 2018 to 2021.
"In 2021, more deaths, about 25%, were recorded in June and July when the Covid-19 pandemic was at its peak,” it read.
Children’s deaths
Diarrhoeal diseases accounted for the highest number of deaths in children, the report found.
“Diarrhoeal diseases accounted for the leading cause of death in children aged 0 to 4, followed by birth asphyxia and birth trauma (10.8%), prematurity and low birth weight (8.8%), lower respiratory infections (7%) and protein-energy malnutrition (4.7%).”
Older children generally succumbed to drowning, it added.
“The leading causes of death in children aged five to 14 was drowning’s at 11.1%, diarrhoeal diseases at 10.1%, road accidents (8.8%), protein-energy malnutrition (7.5%) and endocrine disorders (4.6%).
“Diarrhoeal diseases were ranked as the number-one leading cause of death for children under five in 2020 (11.9%) and 2021 (11.3%). The leading cause of death for children aged five to 14 in both 2020 and 2021 was drowning, with 13.2% and 11.1% respectively,” the report added.
Regional breakdown
On a regional basis, the Oshana Region recorded the highest crude death rates by region for 2021 (between 12% and 17.5%), followed by Khomas, Zambezi, Omaheke and Hardap respectively (between 10% and 11.9%).
Similarly, Oshana and Omaheke registered the highest infant mortality rates for 2021 (between 77.1% and 116.8%), followed by Zambezi, Kavango East, Otjozondjupa, Omusati and Hardap (between 63.1% and 77%).
Omaheke and Oshana recorded the highest under-five mortality in 2020, with rates ranging between 81 and 134.8 per 1 000 live births, while in 2021, Kavango East, Omaheke, Oshana, Otjozondjupa and Zambezi recorded the highest.
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