Burden of multimorbidity in South Africa: Implications for health policy and service delivery
Abstract
South Africa is challenged to manage the quadruple burden of disease experienced
by its population. Furthermore, the burden of multimorbidity – that is, people living with more
than one disease condition – is increasing. Multimorbidity challenges the way the health system is
organised as it traverses different health programmes. However, little research has investigated the
phenomenon in South Africa. The study describes the epidemiology – prevalence, patterns and risk factors - of
multimorbidity in South Africa, and makes recommendations for health policy and service
delivery.