Epidemiological Study of Drowning Deaths in Madurai Region.

Background: World Health Organization described drowning as serious and neglected public health problem. Nearly about 42 people every hour and 3.7 lakh people every year die due to drowning in the world. Method: The present study was undertaken at Government Medical College and Hospital located in Madurai on dead bodies brought for postmortem. The study was carried out during the period of January 2017 to December 2018 on 80 cases to study the various epidemiological parameters of drowning. Results and Conclusions: We have concluded that 75% victims were males and 25% were females. Drowning deaths were commonly seen in age groups of 11 to 20 years (25%). Maximum no of drowning deaths had occurred in urban region constituting 52% followed by rural region of 48%. Study also revealed majority of the victims were students constituting males 67% and females 33%. Number of victims of drowning deaths has familial and financial problems in males 78% and females 22%, depression seen in males 71% and females 29%. Number of drowning deaths occurred in September 16.5%. Most of the drowned victims were retrieved from river 59%, Wells 25%, Pond 29%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]