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Chronic Pain Affects Millions in South Africa with Inadequate Management
Nearly one in five South Africans suffers from chronic pain, with women more affected than men, according to recent studies. The public health system struggles to provide effective treatment, relying mostly on basic painkillers. Experts call for interdisciplinary approaches to address the complex causes of persistent pain.
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Nearly one in five South Africans over the age of 15 experiences chronic pain, based on a 2016 survey of more than 10,000 people. The study, published in 2020, found that 18.3% of respondents reported persistent pain, with women more likely to be affected than men.
A more recent analysis, published in March 2026, indicated that 1.7% of the population faces high-impact chronic pain, limiting daily activities such as walking or dressing. This high prevalence suggests a significant healthcare burden, yet the response in South Africa remains insufficient.
Most individuals rely on the public health system, which serves 83% of the population, but access to adequate pain relief is limited. Rural clinics often provide only basic medications like paracetamol or ibuprofen, along with brief consultations.
Chronic pain often stems from an oversensitized nervous system that amplifies minor signals or misinterprets normal sensations as threats. Initial causes may include injury or disease, but persistent pain involves biological, psychological, and social factors.
Environmental influences, cultural beliefs, and past trauma also play roles, with 74% of South Africans experiencing at least one traumatic event in their lifetime. Trauma can activate long-term survival responses, leading to muscular tension and heightened pain sensitivity.
In South Africa, where such experiences are common, this factor significantly contributes to chronic pain cases.
Treatment in much of the country relies on outdated approaches, such as morphine for severe pain and paracetamol for milder cases. Experts emphasize that chronic pain requires a multifaceted strategy, including psychological and physical interventions alongside medications.
