Drowning is one of the leading causes of child deaths in Bangladesh. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), 43% of the total number of children’s deaths in Bangladesh occurred due to drowning. A study titled ‘Global Burden of Disease Study 2017’ commissioned by the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME), Seattle, USA has found that Bangladesh had 14,029 estimated fatal drownings in 2017 and Bangladesh ranked fifth among Commonwealth countries.

Media Monitoring Analysis

SoMaSHTe, a media development and communication focused organization with support from Global Health Advocacy Incubator (GHAI) conducted the media monitoring on drowning in Bangladesh. The information was found by analyzing the reports published in different national and local media during the last 18 months (January 2020-June 2021). During this period, some 1402 people died in 875 drowning incidents. Of them 1164 (83%) were children.

Location
322 people died in Dhaka division. Besides, 267 in Chattogram division, 187 in Rangpur, 183   in Rajshahi, 143 in Mymensingh, 123  in Barishal, 109 in Khulna, 68 in Sylhet divisions. The highest 66 deaths recorded in Netrokona district. Besides, 59 in Dhaka, 54 in Noakhali, 50 in Dinajpur, 42 in Gazipur and 39 in Kurigram.

Age
514 children were aged bellow 4, 448 were aged between 5-9 years, 157 were aged between 9-14 and 45 were aged between 15-18 years. 238 were aged 18+.

Gender
506 were female and of them 450 were girl child, and 890 were male and of them 708 were boy child. Gender was not identified for 6 children. Most of the child victims went to nearby water bodies while they were unattended.

Drowning Time
Most of the drowning cases occurred during the period from morning to afternoon. 588 people died in morning, 545 died in afternoon, 235 died in evening and at night 22 people died.

Monthly Status 
During the period from June to October 2020, 577 people died in drowning. The highest number of 171 drowning deaths occurred in August 2020. During the first quarter of 2020, 217 people died but at the same period in 2021, a total of 577 people died of drowning. 

Causes
The rate of death from drowning was much higher in rural areas compared to the urban areas. 1222 drowning victims were unattended. Most of the death occurred in ponds and ditches near to their homes. Apart from these 180 persons died in boat accidents. 55 people were flood victim. 

Trend Analysis

Recommendation 
The government should develop a nation wise strategy to prevent child drowning, learning from proven interventions targeting those most prone to risk. Committed, long-term investment based on learning from the proven intervention such as community-based childcare center is essential. Government should also promote best practices for childcare centers with special focus on creative incentives for maintaining quality and effective care.