VITAL STATISTICS

Grey River Argus, 8 September 1939, Page 5

VITAL STATISTICS

SOUTH AFRICAN UNION. EAST LONDON, August 1. The Union Secretary of Public Health, Dr. E. H. Cluver, gave some interesting and, to a certain extent, disquieting figures regarding South Africa’s population movements. The estimated population of this country at present is 2 ’ 107 ’ 100 Europeans, 7,054,500 natives, 232,500 Asiatics, and 821,300 of mixed and other coloured race?. ' The birth-rate of the Union is still comparatively high compared with that of other countries, although it is steadily declining. In 1911, it was 32and in 1937 only 24.9. This figure exceeds the respective birth-rates of England and the other Dominions. But it must be a matter of grave concern to the Union that the deathrate is not falling appreciably. From 10.4 per 1,000 of the population in 1911 it dropped by not more than 0.3 per 1000 in 1937. At 10.1 it is lower than the corresponding, figure for England and Wales,, but higher than in Canada, Australia and New Zealand. Owing to the heavy birth-rate, the natural increase of the Union population still amounts to 14.8 per 1,000, compared to 21.8 in 1911, and is considerably higher than in England and Wales (2.9), Australia (7.3), New Zealand (8.1), or Canada (10.07).

SOPHISTICATION AND THE BIRTH-RATE. According to Dr. Cluver, the falling birth-rate in South Africa cannot be attributed to delayed marriage. Physiological and pathological factors also could be safely ruled out, nor had there been an increase in diseases which might result in infertility. In the absence of such factors, the fall in the birth-rate must be attributed largely to increasing sophistication. With information about birth control easily obtainable and equipment readily obtainable, it is, in the lecturer’s opinion, not surprising that married couples avoided having children, who were expensive to rear in modern times. . The infant mortality rate in the Union is falling, but at 57 per 1,000 exceeds the infant mortality rates m England and the other Dominions,, except Canada. The South African figures are based only on a survey of the European population. Infant mortality among natives is much higher and if reliable figures were available would place the Union below any other civilised country. The great majority of the deaths of infants in the Union is the direct. result of undernourishment, in particular a shortage of milk, and hygienic neglect. Infant mortality among Bantu communities is extremely high, owing to malnutrition, insanitation and insufficient social welfare work.

EVIL OF -MALNUTRITION. The death-rate for European mothers in child-birth has remained almost unchanged for the last 20 years, and is higher than in any other comparable country. These figures were complemented I by a paper read by Dr. F. W. Fox, biochemist at the South African. Institute for Medical Research, on nutrition, in which he contrasted prices of common foodstuff in Britain and the Union, and insisted on the undeveloped food resources of South Africa. The two speakers reached similar conclusions. Dr. Fox stated that the tax imposed on the small European population by low vitality and poor health as a result of unsatisfactory diet, was such "that we "simply cannot, [afford to go on paying,” and Dr. Clu'ver stressed that malnutrition among Bantu infants and children .inevitably (resulted in “a rapidly increasing de»mand for hospitalisation . . . and an 'increasing shortage of fit labour.” ’ I The problems involved are, indeed, [..vital for the future of the Union, and [[it is hoped that the picture drawn by j two recognised experts on health and nutrition questions will not fail to Im'.press the Government with the urgency of-, large-scale schemes to combat tiie distressing state of affairs.