A framework for addressing implementation gap in global drowning prevention interventions: experiences from...

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Injury Prevention
• Global Health

Background:

• Drowning is the leading cause of injury-related death in children under five globally.
• Low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) bear 95% of these deaths due to implementation gaps in prevention strategies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review drowning prevention interventions.
• To introduce a novel framework for effective implementation of these interventions.
• To describe the Saving of Lives from Drowning (SoLiD) Project in Bangladesh using this framework.

Main Methods:

• Systematic review of drowning intervention studies.
• Development of a four-phase implementation framework (planning, engaging, executing, evaluating).
• Application of the framework to LMIC projects and the SoLiD Project in Bangladesh.

Main Results:

• Effective drowning interventions in high-income countries are often untested in LMICs.
• Key implementation components include funding, political will, capacity building, coordination, multisectoral action, and rigorous evaluation.
• Challenges in LMICs include funding, technical capacity, and coordination.

Conclusions:

• The proposed four-phase framework provides a structured approach to implementing drowning prevention interventions.
• The SoLiD Project demonstrates the practical utility of this framework in Bangladesh.
• The framework is adaptable for drowning and injury prevention programs in other LMIC settings.