Drowning – a major but neglected child health problem in rural Bangladesh: implications for low income countries

Abstract

This study was intended to estimate the magnitude and explore the determinants of childhood drowning in rural Bangladesh. A cross-sectional survey as well as a population-based case - control study was conducted. By multistage cluster sampling 51 147 children aged 1 - 4 years were identified from 108 827 rural households. All drownings in children aged 1 - 4 years in the preceding 5 years were identified and recruited as cases and two living children of the same age group were selected from the same localities as controls. Socio-economic, demographic, environmental and other related information was collected from mothers of both cases and controls by face-to-face interview with the help of structured questionnaires. The incidence of drowning among children aged 1 - 4 years old was 156.4 per 100 000 children-year. The highest rate (328.1 per 100 000; 95% CI 254.8 - 421.7) was observed in 1 year old male children. The proportional mortality due to drowning in the children was 27.9%. Mothers' age and literacy and family income were identified as risk factors. Drowning is one of the major causes of 1 - 4 years childhood mortality in Bangladesh. One-year-old male children from poor families were at great risk of drowning in rural Bangladesh.

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

“…After excluding bathtub drowning deaths to analyze drownings possibly related to swimming and/or water safety skills, men and women from rural areas had a significantly higher risk of drowning compared with their non-rural counterparts. Previous studies have found rural residency to be associated with an increased risk of drowning, but the majority of these studies were restricted to pediatric drowning deaths (Fang et al, 2007;Hammig & Weatherly, 2003;Kim, Ozegovic, & Voaklander, 2012;Ma et al, 2010;Rahman et al, 2006;Svenson et al, 1996;World Health Organization, 2012). Our study is unique in that we included all ages of drowning victims.…”

“…Previous studies from the U.S., Australia, and Bangladesh found the highest rates of drowning among children aged 1-4 (Mackie, 1999;Quan et al, 1989;Rahman et al, 2006). More recent data from China found that children aged 5-14 had the highest risk of drowning (Fang et al, 2007).…”

“…Studies of pediatric drowning deaths in Asia have found that rural residency is associated with higher drowning rates (Fang et al, 2007;Ma et al, 2010;Rahman, Giashuddin, Svanström, & Rahman, 2006;World Health Organization, 2012). Data from North America, specifically the United States, are conflicting.…”

Predictors of Swimming Skill of Primary School Children in Rural Thailand

“…Drowning rates are highest among children and in rural areas (Fang et al, 2007;Quan & Cummings, 2003;Rahman et al, 2006;Sitthi-amorn et al, 2006). Providing swimming lessons is an important strategy to prevent childhood drowning (Brenner et al, 2009;Hyder, Borse et al, 2008;McIntosh, 2009;Rahman et al, 2010;World Health Organization, 2008).…”

“…Drowning is one of the most common causes of death among young children in developing countries in Asia, including Thailand (Fang et al, 2007;Hyder, Wali, Fishman, & Schenk, 2008;Linnan et al, 2007;Rahman, Giashuddin, Svanstrom, & Rahman, 2006;Sitthi-amorn et al, 2006). In 1999, a study of unintentional injury death among children aged 2-16 years in Thailand showed that 35% of deaths were due to drowning (13.1/100,000; Kozik et al, 1999).…”