Community perception of child drowning in South India: a qualitative study.
BACKGROUND
World-wide, drowning is one of the leading causes of death in children between 1 and 12 years of age, especially in low- and middle-income countries.


OBJECTIVE
To assess the community's perceptions of the common causes of death in children, the level of awareness of drowning as a major cause and the reasons for the high rate of drowning, and to discuss preventive measures.


METHODS
Five focus group discussions were conducted with representatives from five different categories of people in the community. The groups included health aides, extension workers and part-time community health workers in the peripheral health care team of the Department of Community Health, Christian Medical College, Vellore and land owners/village leaders. The data were analysed using content analysis to detect themes and trends.


RESULTS
Drowning was not perceived as a major cause of childhood death. Unprotected bodies of water was acknowledged as a reason for the high rate of drowning. The groups suggested some preventive measures including intensive education on the causes of drowning, the introduction of more balwadis (day nurseries) in the villages, and the identification of resources to protect open bodies of water.


CONCLUSIONS
There is an urgent need among rural communities to create awareness of the high rate of drowning in children and to motivate and facilitate individuals, communities, organisations and government agencies to make the communities safer for children.
Isaac
Rita
R
Rural Unit for Health and Social Affairs, Christian Medical College, Vellore, India.
Helan
Jasmine
J
Minz
Shantidani
S
Bose
Anuradha
A
D002423:Cause of Death; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004332:Drowning / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000523:psychology; D017144:Focus Groups; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006293:Health Promotion / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D007194:India; D007223:Infant; D036301:Qualitative Research; D012307:Risk Factors; D012423:Rural Health