Abstract
OBJECTIVES. This study described childhood drowning rates and circumstances in Harris County, a large metropolitan area in Texas, and compared case ascertainment between data sources. METHODS. Drowning rates among Harris County residents newborn through 19 years of age were calculated from death certificate data (1983 through 1989), and local childhood drowning hazards were described on the basis of medical examiner data (1983 through 1990). Cases from both sources were compared to determine sensitivity of sources. RESULTS. The drowning rate among Harris County residents newborn through 19 years of age was 3.8 per 100,000 person-years. The drowning rates among Blacks and Hispanics exceeded that of Whites by 56% and 19%, respectively. The majority of the 196 unintentional drownings occurred in swimming pools. Half of the pool drownings occurred in apartment pools and 33% in private home pools. The medical examiner logbook identified a slightly higher number of drownings than did death certificates. International Classification of Diseases external cause of death codes were of limited use in describing drowning circumstances. CONCLUSIONS. Childhood drowning hazards not previously reported were identified, specifically hazards in apartment pools and those among Hispanic children.
Full text
PDF
Images in this article
Selected References
These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.
- Eichelberger M. R., Gotschall C. S., Feely H. B., Harstad P., Bowman L. M. Parental attitudes and knowledge of child safety. A national survey. Am J Dis Child. 1990 Jun;144(6):714–720. doi: 10.1001/archpedi.1990.02150300112029. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- HAENSZEL W., LOVELAND D. B., SIRKEN M. G. Lung-cancer mortality as related to residence and smoking histories. I. White males. J Natl Cancer Inst. 1962 Apr;28:947–1001. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- O'Carroll P. W., Alkon E., Weiss B. Drowning mortality in Los Angeles County, 1976 to 1984. JAMA. 1988 Jul 15;260(3):380–383. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Pearn J. H., Wong R. Y., Brown J., 3rd, Ching Y. C., Bart R., Jr, Hammar S. Drowning and near-drowning involving children: a five-year total population study from the City and County of Honolulu. Am J Public Health. 1979 May;69(5):450–454. doi: 10.2105/ajph.69.5.450. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Press E., Walker J., Crawford I. An interstate drowning study. Am J Public Health Nations Health. 1968 Dec;58(12):2275–2289. doi: 10.2105/ajph.58.12.2275. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Quan L., Gore E. J., Wentz K., Allen J., Novack A. H. Ten-year study of pediatric drownings and near-drownings in King County, Washington: lessons in injury prevention. Pediatrics. 1989 Jun;83(6):1035–1040. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Wintemute G. J. Childhood drowning and near-drowning in the United States. Am J Dis Child. 1990 Jun;144(6):663–669. doi: 10.1001/archpedi.1990.02150300061018. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Wintemute G. J., Kraus J. F., Teret S. P., Wright M. A. The epidemiology of drowning in adulthood: implications for prevention. Am J Prev Med. 1988 Nov-Dec;4(6):343–348. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Wintemute G. J., Kraus J. F., Teret S. P., Wright M. Drowning in childhood and adolescence: a population-based study. Am J Public Health. 1987 Jul;77(7):830–832. doi: 10.2105/ajph.77.7.830. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Wintemute G. J., Teret S. P., Kraus J. F., Wright M. Alcohol and drowning: an analysis of contributing factors and a discussion of criteria for case selection. Accid Anal Prev. 1990 Jun;22(3):291–296. doi: 10.1016/0001-4575(90)90020-l. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Wintemute G. J., Wright M. A. The attitude-practice gap revisited: risk reduction beliefs and behaviors among owners of residential swimming pools. Pediatrics. 1991 Dec;88(6):1168–1171. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]