Fatal Drowning in Brazilian Toddlers and Preschoolers in the City of Campina Grande

Abstract

Abstract Drowning is one of the accidents with the greatest impact on health. The objective of this paper was to analyze drowning deaths involving children up to four years of age in Campina Grande, Brazil. A cross-sectional study was developed using secondary data, carried out at the Forensic Medicine Unit. All autopsy reports of children 0-4 years of age, victims of drowning in the period from 2008 to 2011 were evaluated. Data referring to the year of occurrence, victims’ gender and age, time of day, day of week and place of occurrence were collected. Data analysis involved descriptive statistics (frequency distribution). Ninety-three cases of fatal drowning were identified, of which 20 (21.5%) involved children under four years of age. Most victims were male (80%), aged one year (35%). The accidents occurred predominantly during the day (85%), mostly at home (75%). The drowning victims were mostly boys in the first year of life and most cases of drowning occurred at their homes.