Identifying strategic priorities for advancing global drowning prevention: a Delphi method.

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Global Health Security
• Injury Prevention

Background:

• Drowning is a growing global health concern with increasing political attention but lacks a defined global strategy.
• Existing efforts to prevent drowning are fragmented, necessitating a coordinated international approach.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify and prioritize key strategic actions for advancing global drowning prevention.
• To provide an evidence-based framework for developing a comprehensive global drowning prevention strategy.

Main Methods:

• A modified Delphi method was employed, involving an advisory group and 134 diverse participants (research, policy, technical, community).
• Document review and data extraction from global health partnerships informed the initial drafting of 75 priorities.
• Two Delphi rounds assessed priorities based on relevance, feasibility, and impact on equity, with consensus requiring ≥70% agreement.

Main Results:

• Fifty critical priorities for global drowning prevention were selected across seven domains: research, guidance, capacity building, policy integration, advocacy, multisectoral action, and governance.
• Participants emphasized relevance (43.2%), feasibility (29.4%), and impact on equity (27.4%) in their assessments.
• The selected priorities represent diverse expertise, with 38.1% of participants from low- and middle-income countries.

Conclusions:

• The study provides a crucial evidence base for advocating drowning prevention across relevant global policies and agendas.
• The identified priorities can guide funders, researchers, policymakers, and national coalitions in developing and implementing drowning prevention plans.
• Integrating drowning prevention into agendas like disaster risk reduction, sustainable development, child health, and climate resilience offers co-benefits.