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Paediatricians in the RSA, 1981-2000
Insights
South Africa has a sufficient number of paediatricians, but their distribution is poor. Most children, particularly in rural areas, lack access to paediatric care, indicating a significant under-service issue.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Pediatrics
- Health Workforce Distribution
Background:
- In 1981, South Africa faced a challenge in paediatrician distribution.
- A significant disparity existed between paediatrician locations and child population centers.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the distribution of paediatricians in South Africa.
- To correlate paediatrician numbers and locations with the child population demographics.
Main Methods:
- Survey of all registered paediatricians in South Africa (July 1981).
- Correlation with child population data from the 1980 census.
Main Results:
- 201 active paediatricians identified; 55% in hospitals, 45% in private practice.
- 83% of paediatricians were in teaching hospital areas, where only 23% of children lived.
- 60% of children (95% Black) resided in rural areas without paediatricians.
Conclusions:
- South Africa's paediatrician numbers were adequate but poorly distributed in 1981.
- Rural child populations were severely under-serviced due to maldistribution.
- Potential solutions for improving paediatrician distribution were proposed.
Abstract:
A survey of all paediatricians registered with the South African Medical and Dental Council in July 1981 was conducted and the results were correlated with the child population as determined by the 1980 census. There were 201 active paediatricians, of whom 55% were employed in hospitals and 45% in private practice; 83% were resident in areas in which there were teaching hospitals, while only 23% of the total number of children resided in these areas. Sixty per cent of the children (95% of whom were Black) lived in predominantly rural areas where there were no paediatricians. The number of paediatricians in South Africa is expected to rise rapidly during the next 2 decades. We are therefore faced with the problem of having a paediatrician corps which although adequate in number is badly distributed, resulting in the rural population being grossly under-serviced. Possible solutions are presented.