Community perception of child drowning in South India: a qualitative study

World-wide, drowning is one of the leading causes of death in children between 1 and 12 years of age, especially in low- and middle-income countries.

To assess the community's perceptions of the common causes of death in children, the level of awareness of drowning as a major cause and the reasons for the high rate of drowning, and to discuss preventive measures.

Five focus group discussions were conducted with representatives from five different categories of people in the community. The groups included health aides, extension workers and part-time community health workers in the peripheral health care team of the Department of Community Health, Christian Medical College, Vellore and land owners/village leaders. The data were analysed using content analysis to detect themes and trends.

Drowning was not perceived as a major cause of childhood death. Unprotected bodies of water was acknowledged as a reason for the high rate of drowning. The groups suggested some preventive measures including intensive education on the causes of drowning, the introduction of more balwadis (day nurseries) in the villages, and the identification of resources to protect open bodies of water.

There is an urgent need among rural communities to create awareness of the high rate of drowning in children and to motivate and facilitate individuals, communities, organisations and government agencies to make the communities safer for children.