EPIDEMIOLOGY AND RISK FACTORS FOR NONFATAL DROWNING IN THE MIGRANT CHILDREN

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to determine the incidence and potential risk factors for nonfatal drowning among migrant workers' children in China. We conducted a cross-sectional survey of students from third to ninth grade at five Migrant Workers' Children schools in Ningbo, China in 2014. General information and a history of nonfatal drowning was obtained from self-reported questionnaires by migrant students. A multivariate logistic regression model was used to identify potential risk factors. A total 3,859 students were included in the current study. Of these, 13.4% had experienced a nonfatal drowning accident (15.2% for males, 11.2% for females). Most nonfatal drowning occurred in natural water settings. Diving into unknown water without adult supervision had the greatest association with history of nonfatal drowning [odds ratio (OR) = 1.97; 95% confidential interval (CI): 1.31-2.95], followed by fishing in water (OR = 1.50; 95% CI: 1.05-2.14), swimming or playing in water (OR = 1.47; 95% CI: 1.02-2.12), and trying to rescue peers in the water if they were drowning (OR = 1.31; 95% CI: 1.04-1.64). There were factors associated with a lower risk of drowing: having a parent accompany the child to school (OR = 0.69; 95% CI: 0.51-0.93),understanding the the danger of swimming alone (OR = 0.69; 95% CI: 0.48-0.99) and having a knowledge about water safety (OR = 0.98; 95% CI: 0.98-0.99). The study population was at inceased risk for nonfatal drowning. Preventive measures, such as improved water-safety knowledge, decreasing risky water-related activities and better supervision of children need to be developed and tested to decrease the risk of nonfatal drowning among the study population.