Differences in Drowning Rates between Rural and Non-Rural Residents of Ontario, Canada

Fralick, Michael; Gallinger, Zane; Hwang, Stephen W.

doi:10.25035/ijare.07.04.06

Cited by 5 publications

(5 citation statements)

References 20 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…In fact the proportion of Canadians living in an urban area has increased steadily overtime to 81 % in 2011 [ 20 ]. A study of drowning deaths in Ontario from 2004–2008 found that rural residence was associated with an increased risk of drowning for both males and females [ 21 ]. Increased drowning prevention strategies targeting rural areas and their residents may be warranted.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A population based study of drowning in Canada

et al. 2016

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

BackgroundAlthough water-related fatality rates have changed over time, the epidemiology of drowning in Canada has not recently been examined. In spite of the evidence supporting varying drowning death rates by age, information on how characteristics of drowning incidents differ by age group remains limited. The primary objective of this study was to examine the epidemiology of drowning in Canada. A secondary objective was to describe the characteristics of these drowning incidents as they vary by age group.MethodsA retrospective descriptive analysis was conducted using data that were collected for incidents occurring in Canada between January 1, 2008 and December 31, 2012. The main outcome variable was a water-related fatality, in the majority of cases (94 %) the primary cause of death was drowning. Age specific frequencies, proportions and rates per 100,000 population were calculated and compared among six age groups.ResultsThere were 2392 unintentional water-related fatalities identified in Canada between 2008 and 2012. Death rates (per 100,000) varied by age group 0–4 (1.05), 5–14 (0.57), 15–19 (1.27), 20–34 (1.70), 35–64 (1.44), 65+ (1.74). The male to female ratio was 5:1. Differences in the characteristics of drowning by age group were identified across: sex, body of water, urban versus rural location, time of year, activity type, purpose of activity, alcohol involvement, personal flotation device use, accompaniment, and whether a rescue was attempted.ConclusionsThe study results suggest that there may be a need for drowning prevention strategies that are tailored to specific age groups. Rural areas in Canada may also benefit from targeted drowning prevention.

show abstract

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A population based study of drowning in Canada

et al. 2016

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…7 Like other injury mechanisms, rural populations also experience higher rates of drowning, which are positively correlated as rurality increases. 8,9 In 2019, there were 267 fatal unintentional drownings, of which 55% occurred outside of areas classified as being major cities. 10 While drowning fatality rates have declined in Australia, this is largely due to gains made among children under five.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Next steps for drowning prevention in rural and remote Australia: A systematic review of the literature

Taylor

Peden

Franklin

2020

Australian J Rural Health

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

SPORTDiscus and Google Scholar were searched for studies exploring fatal and non-fatal unintentional drowning by remoteness. Epidemiological data, common factors and prevention strategies were extracted and mapped to Australian standard geographical classifications (major cities, inner regional, outer regional, remote and very remote). Level of evidence was assessed using Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation and prevention strategies aligned to the hierarchy of control. Result: Thirty-two studies satisfied inclusion criteria (66% reporting epidemiology; 59% risk factors; and 44% prevention strategies). All (100%) included studies were assessed very low against Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation. Findings indicate rural populations (ie, excluding major cities) have higher rates of drowning positively correlated with increasing remoteness. Common factors included age (child), natural water bodies, undertaking boating and watercraft activities and alcohol consumption. While a range of prevention strategies has been proposed, only one study outlined a rural drowning prevention strategy which had been implemented and evaluated. Strategies were generally low on the hierarchy of control. Conclusion: Rural populations are proportionately overrepresented in drowning statistics. Proposed prevention strategies have unknown efficacy. Greater research into rural drowning of Australians is needed especially exploring behavioural motivations, program delivery, cost-effectiveness and evaluation. Development and use of a standard definition for remoteness are recommended. Rural populations use water extensively; therefore, there is an urgent need to keep them safe. K E Y W O R D S education/training, policy, public health, remote health, rurality Other 32 Metropolitan Country Other 34 Rural water hazards Other 37 Metropolitan Country Abbreviations: ARIA, Accessibility/Remoteness Index of Australia; ASGS, Australian Statistical Geography Standard; M, Modified; RRMA, rural, remote and metropolitan areas.

show abstract

“…The finding that drowning mortality was elevated in rural areas is in line with previous research from Europe which has linked rurality to an increased risk of drowning [ 12 ] and a study from Lithuania using data from 1988 to 2009, which found that drowning mortality rates were 1.6–2.5 times higher in rural than in urban areas [ 44 ]. An earlier study showed that the vast majority of drowning deaths in our study countries occur in natural bodies of water [ 45 ] and in this context, it is possible that increased access to water [ 46 ] in conjunction with other factors such as choosing to swim in places where no other people are present [ 47 ] and reduced access to swimming lessons in rural areas [ 10 ] might also play a role in higher rural drowning mortality. Indeed, in a 2017 survey in Latvia 64% of respondents stated that they did not know how to swim or did not feel safe in the water [ 47 ].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Similarly, there are also geographical differences in drowning. Studies from high-income countries [ 10 , 11 ] have indicated that rurality is associated with higher mortality from unintentional drowning, which in Europe, has been linked to the proximity of natural bodies of water, poorer access to emergency services, and poverty [ 12 ]. The latter ties in with other research which has highlighted that there are socioeconomic differences in drowning mortality.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Sociodemographic inequalities in mortality from drowning in the Baltic countries and Finland in 2000–2015: a register-based study

et al. 2023

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Background Drowning is an important public health problem. Some evidence suggests that the risk of drowning is not distributed evenly across the general population. However, there has been comparatively little research on inequalities in drowning mortality. To address this deficit, this study examined trends and sociodemographic inequalities in mortality from unintentional drowning in the Baltic countries and Finland in 2000–2015. Methods Data for Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania came from longitudinal mortality follow-up studies of population censuses in 2000/2001 and 2011, while corresponding data for Finland were obtained from the longitudinal register-based population data file of Statistics Finland. Deaths from drowning (ICD-10 codes W65–W74) were obtained from national mortality registries. Information was also obtained on socioeconomic status (educational level) and urban-rural residence. Age-standardised mortality rates (ASMRs) per 100 000 person years and mortality rate ratios were calculated for adults aged 30–74 years old. Poisson regression analysis was performed to assess the independent effects of sex, urban-rural residence and education on drowning mortality. Results Drowning ASMRs were significantly higher in the Baltic countries than in Finland but declined by nearly 30% in all countries across the study period. There were large inequalities by sex, urban-rural residence and educational level in all countries during 2000–2015. Men, rural residents and low educated individuals had substantially higher drowning ASMRs compared to their counterparts. Absolute and relative inequalities were significantly larger in the Baltic countries than in Finland. Absolute inequalities in drowning mortality declined in all countries across the study period except between urban and rural residents in Finland. Changes in relative inequalities were more variable during 2000–2015. Conclusion Despite a sharp reduction in deaths from drowning in the Baltic countries and Finland in 2000–2015, drowning mortality was still high in these countries at the end of the study period with a substantially larger risk of death seen among men, rural residents and low educated individuals. A concerted effort to prevent drowning mortality among those most at risk may reduce drownings considerably in the general population.

show abstract

Differences in Drowning Rates between Rural and Non-Rural Residents of Ontario, Canada

Cited by 5 publications

References 20 publications

A population based study of drowning in Canada

A population based study of drowning in Canada

Next steps for drowning prevention in rural and remote Australia: A systematic review of the literature

Sociodemographic inequalities in mortality from drowning in the Baltic countries and Finland in 2000–2015: a register-based study

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About