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Published on: January 28, 2020
Association between swimming lessons and drowning in childhood: a case-control study
Ruth A Brenner1, Gitanjali Saluja Taneja, Denise L Haynie
1National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA. brennerr@mail.nih.gov
Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine
|March 4, 2009
Summary
Formal swimming lessons significantly reduce drowning risk in young children. This study found an 88% risk reduction in children aged 1-4 years who participated in swimming lessons.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Pediatrics
- Injury Prevention
Background:
- Drowning is a leading cause of unintentional injury death in children.
- Swimming ability is considered a potential protective factor against drowning.
- The specific impact of formal swimming lessons on drowning risk requires further investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To estimate the association between formal swimming lessons and the risk of unintentional drowning among children aged 1 to 19 years.
Main Methods:
- A case-control study design was employed.
- Cases were children aged 1-19 years who died from unintentional drowning, identified through medical examiner offices.
- Interviews were conducted with families of 88 drowning victims and 213 matched controls.
Main Results:
- For children aged 1-4 years, participation in formal swimming lessons was associated with a significant reduction in drowning risk (adjusted odds ratio [OR], 0.12; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.01-0.97).
- Among children aged 5-19 years, a similar but not statistically significant reduction in drowning risk was observed (adjusted OR, 0.36; 95% CI, 0.09-1.51).
- Informal swimming instruction showed no statistically significant association with drowning risk.
Conclusions:
- Formal swimming lessons are associated with a substantial reduction in drowning risk for children aged 1-4 years.
- While estimates for younger children were imprecise, the findings suggest a protective effect of swimming lessons.
- Further research with larger sample sizes may refine the understanding of swimming lessons' impact across different age groups.
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