New Delhi: Drowning deaths across the state of West Bengal, India, are almost three times higher than previous estimates, according to results of one of the largest community-based surveys to date, published today in the B BMJ Global Health1.
The survey, supported by Bloomberg Philanthropies, found that 9,191 people in West Bengal die from drowning each year, with the highest proportion (33%) being in the 1–4-year age group.
Lead author Dr Jagnoor Jagnoor from The George Institute for Global Health said the new data exposed a massive gap in the understanding of this public health emergency.
“Our findings are deeply concerning, particularly the huge loss of young lives to drowning. The real tragedy is that every one of these deaths is preventable,” she said.
“We have the science, we have the solutions, and we’re committed to working alongside our partners and the communities we serve to reduce the risk of drowning in these vulnerable and underserved populations.”
Researchers from The George Institute used a low-cost Community Knowledge Approach to data collection, engaging over 15,000 community members, covering a population of nearly 18 million, to report deaths in their neighbourhoods, which were subsequently validated through household surveys with victims’ families.
They found almost half (45%) of all drowning deaths occurred in children aged 1-9 years old, peaking around the child’s first birthday. Drowning incidents in children mostly occurred within 50 metres of the home and peaked between 12:00 and 2:00pm, when caregivers are often busy with household chores and work.
“Children aged 1 to 4 are at a unique risk of drowning due to their natural curiosity, rapid physical development, and sheer delight in water. As soon as they become mobile, brief lapses in supervision can have tragic consequences. That’s why proven interventions – like active supervision and barriers to water – are so vital for protecting our youngest and most adventurous explorers,” Dr Jagnoor added.
According to Bloomberg Philanthropies2, around half of all deaths in the world currently go unrecorded, meaning that health decisions are often based on inadequate information. The George Institute’s Dr Medhavi Gupta said that traditional methods of data collection on drowning deaths had exacerbated this problem.
“As most deaths occur in children, families do not have legal or financial incentives to report deaths to authorities. Poor reach and utilisation of healthcare infrastructure also means deaths are missed by the system,” she said.
“Only 18% of the deaths identified in our data had a death certificate associated with them, and drowning was mentioned as a cause of death in only 57% of those that did.”
The survey also showed that 86% of deaths were found in rural areas, where health system reach is often limited, and males were twice as likely to drown compared to females.
West Bengal, in India’s east, has a population of around 102 million people spread across diverse geographies with high exposure to open water – four out of five of its state divisions are coastal, or are crossed by a network of rivers and deltas. It also has some of the highest poverty rates and economic development hurdles in India.
Despite advancements in global development and the implementation of targeted interventions, drowning remains a significant cause of injury-related mortality in low-middle-income countries, where the World Health Organization estimates 92% of global drownings occur.
“Now that we have a much more accurate picture of drowning deaths in the region and the circumstances surrounding them, we can work with communities and government towards implementing proven and targeted solutions to protect these communities,” Dr Jagnoor added.
Given the high burden of drowning in the 1-6 year age group, the research team intend to focus on the following targeted recommendations:
- Installing physical barriers around ponds and open water sources to safeguard toddlers aged 1-2 years, especially near homes;
- Increasing access to child-creches/daycare for children aged 2-6 years in rural and underserved areas.
Dr Kelly Henning, Public Health Program Lead at Bloomberg Philanthropies, said the organisation was working with partners and local organizations to expand access to swimming and water safety skills, along with facilitating better data collection to understand when and how drownings occur.
“Drowning remains a leading cause of preventable death in low-and-middle income communities around the world, especially in young children. Turning this data into action is essential to reducing drowning risk and saving lives,” she said.
