Gaps in the evidence for interventions in global drowning research

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Injury Prevention
• Global Health

Background:

• Drowning prevention has gained political attention since 2014.
• Translating political commitment into life-saving requires evidence-informed interventions.
• An evidence gap map (EGM) was developed to guide research prioritization and intervention commissioning.

Purpose of the Study:

• To systematically map existing evidence on drowning prevention interventions.
• To identify research gaps and inform future strategies for drowning prevention.
• To facilitate the efficient commissioning of effective drowning prevention interventions.

Main Methods:

• A comprehensive search of four electronic databases (2005-2023) for peer-reviewed drowning prevention intervention studies.
• Classification of interventions based on WHO recommendations.
• Categorization of intervention outcomes into health, social, economic, policy, and other supporting outcomes.

Main Results:

• 49 intervention studies were identified, with a majority conducted in high-income countries.
• Community education (27%) and swimming/water safety skills for children (12%) were the most common interventions.
• Most studies focused on process outcomes (e.g., knowledge acquisition, 39%) rather than objective outcomes like drowning mortality (19%).
• No studies reported on flood risk management interventions.

Conclusions:

• Significant knowledge gaps exist in effective drowning prevention interventions.
• Methodological advancements are needed in outcome measurement and reporting.
• Further research is crucial for implementation science and high-risk populations in low- and middle-income countries.