South African Health Care System

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Introduction:

South Africa is undergoing a transformation process after many years of one of the most brutal socio-political systems, the Apartheid; affecting every sector of the society including medical education and the delivery of healthcare services, (de Villiers, 1999). Apartheid was characterized by dividing the country according to the color of the skin, giving favoritism to the white man. Health care in South Africa was a dream until 1994 to the majority of the population which is black. With a more humanitarian social system in place, the country is trying to overcome the difficulties of present time, which is even harder after half a century of destruction, diseases and fraudulent administration. On the other hand, Aids and violence are the leading indicators regarding mortality rates of the South African population. There were over twenty one thousand murders in 2002 and almost eight million people are living with HIV/AIDS as of 2006, (Dixon, 2006).

Location and Geography.

South Africa is located at the southern most point of the African continent. It is surrounded by the waters of the South Atlantic Ocean at the west, and the Indian Ocean at the east coast. It is the 25th largest country in the planet and it also has the 24th largest population as well. It has different climatic zones that ranges from extremely deserts to tropic-similar weathers.

Population.

With about the size of the United Kingdom, France and Germany combined, South Africa holds an estimated population of thirty nine million people, where thirty two million are Africans, four millions are Whites, and another three million of mixed race. The literacy level is eighty two percent; however, only fifty four percent of the population is urba...

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...imary health care approach. BMC Family Practice, 13(1), 67-70.

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Jooste, K., & Jasper, M. (2012). A South African perspective: current position and challenges in health care service management and education in nursing. Journal Of Nursing Management, 20(1), 56-64.

Klopper, H. C., Coetzee, S. K., Pretorius, R., & Bester, P. (2012). Practice environment, job satisfaction and burnout of critical care nurses in South Africa. Journal Of Nursing Management, 20(5), 685-695.

Norman, R., Bradshaw, D. (2007). The high burden of injuries in South Africa. (2007). Bulletin of the World Health Organization, 85(9), 695-702.

Onya, H. (2007). Health promotion in South Africa. Promotion & Education, 14(4), 233-237.

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