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Epidemiology of Drowning in Tehran
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Abstract: (18303 Views) |
| Background & Aim: Drowning must be recognized as a major global public health problem with significant opportunities for prevention.
Materials & Methods: In Order to examine the incidence and characteristics of drowning, we analyzed data from the Legal Medicine Organization of Tehran through a cross sectional study from 2002 to 2006.
Findings: During five years, a total of 292 cases (241 male & 51 femal) suffered fatal drowning in Tehran. Mean age was 21.7±15.7 years and M/F ratio was 4.7:1. The most common age groups of drowned victims were 0-4, 15-24 and 5-14 years (1.5, 1.2 and 1.1 per 100 000 population/year, respectively). Children under the age of 15 years comprised 32.2% of all drowning deaths. Canals and public natatoriums were the locations with the highest number of drowned victims (24.7% and 21.2% respectively). Overall 85.3% of all drowning deaths were occurred in summer and spring. 87% of victims were dead at the places of drowning (p≤0.01). There was correlation between decedents’ motives with their age, sex and education (p≤0.01). Also there was correlation between manner of death with age, sex, educational state and marriage status (p≤0.05). The manner of death was found as following: 88.0% accidental, 5.5% suicidal, 1.4% homicidal and 5.1% undetermined.
Conclusion: Tehran has a mean drowning rate 0.7 per 100 000 population/year which is not a high rate in the drowning related mortality. Yet drowning is a public health problem which involves young population. Prevention of drowning in Tehran, like other parts of our country, requires programming and policies that address known risk factors |
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| Keywords: Drowning, Epidemiology, Mortality, Tehran, Iran |
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Type of Article: Research Article |
Received: 2010/05/18 | Accepted: 2020/06/10 | ePublished: 2020/06/10
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