Who are the victims of poisoning homicide/murder in South Africa? Evidence from vital registration 2001-2011

Lutendo Malisha, Statistics South Africa

Poisoning is a significant global public health problem. According to WHO (2005), in 2004 an estimated 346,000 people died worldwide from unintentional poisoning. Majority of these deaths occurred in low and middle income countries. Deaths due to intentional cause of harm or deaths with poison have slightly been increasing in South Africa from 2001 to 2011. Young adult males between the ages of 20-39 years are at higher risk of poison death than females. Whites are at a higher risk than other races of violent death. The study has utilized administrative data on mortality and causes of death processed by STATS SA from death notification forms collected by the Department of Home Affairs. This data is coded using the international classification of morbidity and mortality the ICD 10.