825 The burden of drowning in Sri Lanka: 2001 to 2006 and 2009. (1st September 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Matthews, Bernadette; Birch, Rhiannon; Jayawardena, Mevan; Mathew, Dushani; Nanayakkara, Asanka; Wiyayaratne, Sanath; Dharmaratne, Samath D
• Is Part Of: Injury prevention. Volume 22(2016)Supplement 2
• Page Start: A295
• Page End: A295
• Publication Date: 2016-09-01
• Subjects: Children's accidents -- Prevention -- Periodicals; Accidents -- Prevention -- Periodicals; 617.1
• DOI: 10.1136/injuryprev-2016-042156.825
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1353-8047

Abstract

Abstract : Introduction: Drowning is a major cause of death and injury in Sri Lanka. Published data on the number and causes of drowning incidents are scarce. Therefore, we undertook this analysis to describe the burden of drowning in Sri Lanka using available data from 2001 to 2006 and 2009. Methods: Data from the first drowning report, 'Drowning prevention report Sri Lanka', published in December, 2014 by the Life Saving Association of Sri Lanka and Life Saving Victoria was used in this analysis. This report includes unintentional drowning deaths reported in Sri Lanka during the study period. Results: During study period, on average, 855 people died from drowning each year, producing a drowning rate of 4.4 deaths per 100, 000 persons. Males were four times more likely to drown than females. Adults aged 25 to 44 years had the highest number of drowning deaths, followed by the 45 to 64 year group, but the age specific death rate was highest in those aged 65 years and over (8.25 deaths per 100, 000). Lakes, wells and open cisterns, and the ocean were the commonest reported drowning locations in Sri Lanka. Conclusions: Globally, the drowning rate of Sri Lanka is ranked 12 th in a comparison of 61 countries, highlighting that this is an important public health problem. Middle aged males are mainly affected, therefore intervention strategies are needed to target this group. Significantly, the highest risk location is lakes, although Sri Lanka is an island. This analysis, a first of its kind, should be used by policy makers to control and prevent deaths from drowning in Sri Lanka.