Chronic illness in non-institutionalized persons. Part I. Prevalence and epidemiology.

A survey was conducted to investigate the prevalence and epidemiology of chronic illness in non-institutionalized persons residing in the Municipality of Cape Town. The Black, Coloured and White communities were independently surveyed and the standardized prevalence proportions of chronic illness were 24,7/1 000, 37,4/1 000 and 11,6/1 000 respectively. The epidemiological parameters investigated included age, sex, marital status, income, education occupation and the associated diseases, and the influence of these factors on the prevalence proportions are considered. Methodological problems of chronic illness surveys are discussed.