Epidemiology of Drowning in Mazandaran Province, North of Iran

Objectives: Drowning must be recognized as a major global public health problem with significant opportunities for prevention. Methods: To examine the incidence and characteristics of drowning in recreational water settings, we analyzed 2002 to 2006 data from the Legal Medicine Organization of Mazandaran province, north of Iran, through a retrospective study. Results: During 2002 to 2006, a total of 1107 persons suffered fatal drowning in Mazandaran province. Mean age was 23.65 +/- 11.47 and M/F ratio was 8.4:1. The most common age groups of drowned victims were 20 to 24 and 15 to 19 years (17.0 and 16.1 per 100,000 population/yr, respectively). Children under the age of 15 years comprised 14.2% of all drowning deaths. Unprotected beaches of the Caspian Sea were the locations with the highest number of drowned victims. Most of drowned victims (65.9%) were travelers from other parts of Iran, especially from Tehran. The manner of death was found as following: 95.5% accidental, 3.6% suicidal, 0.3% homicidal, and 0.6% undetermined. Conclusions: Mazandaran province has a mean drowning rate 7.6 per 100,000 population-year that is not comparable to the drowning-related mortality in developed countries. Effective prevention of drowning requires programming and policies that address known risk factors.