A comparison of the mortality rates of white South Africans with those of the population of England and Wales.

The health of Whites in South Africa in 1970 was poorer than that of the population of England and Wales, judged by the higher mortality rates (MRs) for all causes of death of White South Africans, for all ages combined and for every age interval from infancy to old age. Two groups of causes of disease were the main reasons for the poorer health of White South Africans: (i) 'diseases of the circulatory system' accounted for 50-60% of the higher MRs for all causes of death; ischaemic heart disease and cerebrovascular disease were the two main causes of circulatory deaths, and MRs for these two diseases were much higher in White South Africans than in England and Wales; (ii) 'accidents, poisonings and violence' accounted for 38% of the higher MRs for all causes of death in males and for 17% of those in females. Motor vehicle accidents and suicide were the main causes of accidental deaths, MRs of White South Africans being much higher than those in England and Wales. These MRs were among the highest in the world. Other diseases which contributed, to a small extent, to the poorer health of White South Africans because of the higher MRs compared with those in England and Wales were cirrhosis of the liver in adults, gastro-enteritis, meningitis and septicaemia in infants and children, and 'other ill-defined and unknown causes of death' in elderly people.