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The 2nd Injury Mortality Survey: A national study of injury mortality levels and causes in South Africa in 2017

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The 2nd Injury Mortality Survey: A national study of injury mortality levels and causes in South Africa in 2017

BoDRU, in collaboration with the Gender and Health and Biostatistics unit, conducted a survey of more than 25,000 non-natural deaths that presented to mortuaries in 2017 in order to:

  • describe the incidence of fatal injury rates in South Africa by age, sex and cause
  • compare the provincial injury mortality rates for fatal injuries

Key messages of the 2nd Injury Mortality Survey for 2017 include:

  • Road traffic deaths decreased significantly between 2009 and 2017.
  • Homicides account for more than a third of injury deaths, with rates seven times the global average and no substantial decrease since 2009.
  • The 2017 Injury Mortality Survey (IMS) findings have been validated by alternative routine data, collected by the police and road traffic authorities.
  • The findings by manner of death are more specific to informing national and provincial injury prevention efforts than official death notification data.
  • The findings highlight the role of alcohol in homicide and road traffic mortality.

Please view the key findings and the full report here:  The 2nd Injury Mortality Survey: A national study of injury mortality levels and causes in South Africa in 2017

Please click to view the previous Injury Mortality Survey 2009 report.