Drowning in Uganda: examining data from administrative sources

Abstract

BackgroundDrowning death rates in the African region are estimated to be the highest in the world. Data collection and surveillance for drowning in African countries are limited. We aimed to establish the availability of drowning data in multiple existing administrative data sources in Uganda and to describe the characteristics of drowning based on available data.MethodsWe conducted a retrospective descriptive study in 60 districts in Uganda using existing administrative records on drowning cases from January 2016 to June 2018 in district police offices, marine police detachments, fire/rescue brigade detachments, and the largest mortuary in those districts. Data were systematically deduplicated to determine and quantify unique drowning cases.ResultsA total of 1435 fatal and non-fatal drowning cases were recorded; 1009 (70%) in lakeside districts and 426 (30%) in non-lakeside districts. Of 1292 fatal cases, 1041 (81%) were identified in only one source. After deduplication, 1283 (89% of recorded cases; 1160 fatal, 123 non-fatal) unique drowning cases remained. Data completeness varied by source and variable. When demographic characteristics were known, fatal victims were predominantly male (n=876, 85%), and the average age was 24 years. In lakeside districts, 81% of fatal cases with a known activity at the time of drowning involved boating.ConclusionDrowning cases are recorded in administrative sources in Uganda; however, opportunities to improve data coverage and completeness exist. An improved understanding of circumstances of drowning in both lakeside and non-lakeside districts in Uganda is required to plan drowning prevention strategies.

Determinants of lifejacket use among boaters on Lake Albert, Uganda: a qualitative study

“…Factors attributed to low lifejacket use in HICs include discomfort, perceived swimming expertise and perceived low risk of drowning 10 12 22. The most common activities that require frequent exposure to water in rural low-income settings of Uganda are fishing and water transportation 23. Safety practices in these high-risk activities are left to individual decisions due to lack of appropriate national legislation and support systems.…”

“… 10 12 22 The most common activities that require frequent exposure to water in rural low-income settings of Uganda are fishing and water transportation. 23 Safety practices in these high-risk activities are left to individual decisions due to lack of appropriate national legislation and support systems. Yet, the findings among recreational boaters in HICs cannot be generalised to those involved in occupational boating activities in Uganda, leaving a gap in evidence on factors associated with lifejacket use among these communities.…”

Challenges in Documenting Non-Fatal Drowning Disability in Bangladesh: A Community-Based Survey

“…Firstly, the findings may be an underestimate. Under-reporting of non-fatal drowning and challenges in documenting the associated health burden are well established [ 23 ]. The tool was selected based on reviews and expert opinions, but the findings are challenging to interpret given the single point of data collection, which did not track changes in disability over a period of time.…”

“…The risk factors of non-fatal drowning were similar to those of fatal drowning [ 21 , 22 , 23 ]. Interventions for the prevention of non-fatal drowning for this rural, LMIC region would therefore be similar to those aiming to prevent fatal drownings.…”

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“…3 , 4 A large survey in Bangladesh 4 found that 80% of drowning in children younger than 5 years occurred within 20 m of the family home, whereas older children and adults tended to drown farther away and most typically while collecting water, working, or travelling on water. In a survey of lakeside communities in Uganda, 5 young adult men in boats accounted for more than 80% of drowning deaths, and a survey of such communities in Tanzania 6 found that adult fishermen were the most likely group to drown and that drowning mortality exceeded each of the national death rates for malaria, tuberculosis, and HIV.…”