Project Report – Fiji 2010 - Pacific Health Voices

Morbidity and Mortality.
Table 51 reveals the triple burden of morbidity in Fiji stemming from injury, infectious diseases and
chronic non-communicable diseases. It also shows that non-communicable diseases account for the
greatest part of mortality.
Table 3: The ten major causes of morbidity and mortality in 2007
No MORBIDITY Cause MORTALITY Cause
1 Injury 1 Diabetes mellitus
2 Influenza and pneumonia 2 Other forms of heart diseases
3 Intestinal and infectious disease 3 Ischemic heart diseases
4 Infection of skin & subcutaneous tissues 4 Hypertension
5 Ischemic heart disease 5 Septicaemia
6 Other conditions originating in peri-natal 6 Cerebrovascular Disease
period
7 Chronic lower respiratory disease 7 Other conditions originating in perinatal
period
8 Other forms of heart diseases 8 Chronic lower respiratory disease
9 Hypertension 9 Renal failure
10 Diabetes mellitus 10 Influenza and pneumonia
Source: Fiji MOH - hospital admission
Source: Fiji MOH -Death certificate
Non- communicable diseases such as diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure and respiratory
diseases have now replaced infectious and parasitic diseases as the principal causes of mortality and
morbidity in Fiji.
Key Lifestyle and other issues impacting on health of the people
Lifestyle: The socio cultural differences on health, the migration to urban areas and the transition from
the consumption of local produce to imported refined food items, has resulted in an increase in obesity
and non-communicable diseases in recent decades. Secular fashion and behavioral trends are powerful
influences on young people while the breakdown of traditional social controls have allowed behaviors
such as binge drinking, cannabis consumption, an active nightclub scene, sexual promiscuity and
commercial sex, the consumption of ‘fast foods’ and the increase in street kids and homelessness all of
which are readily visible phenomenon of lifestyle change. The greatest challenge is youth
unemployment. Young people of productive working age are commonly seen on the urban and
suburban streets of Fiji during working hours.
Water and sanitation: Many of the rural water supply systems built during the colonial period are now
deteriorated to the degree that village water systems are sources of diarrheal diseases and other water
borne diseases.
NCD BURDEN IN FIJI
The obesity and non communicable disease problem in Fiji is a serious one. 82% of deaths are now due to
heart disease, heart failure, stroke and hypertension, and these have been recognized as an important
health problem 20 . 10% of deaths are due to communicable diseases, maternal & prenatal and 8% due to
injury & poisoning.
20 Fiji Ministry of Health Report, 2007
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