Can child drowning be eradicated? A compelling case for continued investment in prevention

• Published in: Acta Paediatrica
• Main Authors: Peden, AE, Franklin, RC, Clemens, T
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: unknown
• Published: Wiley 2021
• Subjects: Prevention; Pediatric; 3 Good Health and Well Being; Adolescent; Australia; Canada; Child; Preschool; Drowning; Family; Female; Humans; Infant; Newborn; Male; New Zealand; Young Adult; injury prevention; policy; anzsrc-for: 1114 Paediatrics and Reproductive Medicine; First Nations
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/1959.4/unsworks_79513; https://unsworks.unsw.edu.au/bitstreams/1f8e4a93-2e99-44ee-80a6-d0b27157950c/download; https://doi.org/10.1111/apa.15618

Aim: To explore temporal trends in fatal child drowning and benchmark progress across three high-income countries to provide prevention and future investment recommendations. Methods: A total population analysis of unintentional fatal drownings among 0- to 19-year-olds in Australia, Canada and New Zealand from 2005 to 2014 was undertaken. Univariate and chi-square analyses were conducted, age- and sex-specific crude rates calculated and linear trends explored. Results: A total of 1454 children drowned. Rates ranged from 0.92 (Canada) to 1.35 (New Zealand) per 100 000. Linear trends of crude drowning rates show both Australia (y = −0.041) and Canada (y = −0.048) reduced, with New Zealand (y = 0.005) reporting a slight rise, driven by increased drowning among females aged 15-19 years (+200.4%). Reductions of 48.8% in Australia, 51.1% in Canada and 30.4% in New Zealand were seen in drowning rates of 0- to 4-year-olds. First Nations children drowned in significantly higher proportions in New Zealand (X2 = 31.7; P <.001). Conclusion: Continual investment in drowning prevention, particularly among 0- to 4-year-olds, is contributing to a reduction in drowning deaths; however, greater attention is needed on adolescents (particularly females) and First Nation's children. Lessons can be learned from each country's approach; however, further investment and evolution of prevention strategies will be needed to fully eradicate child drowning deaths.