Interacting Factors Associated with Adult Male Drowning in New Zealand

• Published in: PloS one Vol. 10; no. 6; p. e0130545
• Main Authors: Croft, James L, Button, Chris
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Public Library of Science 17.06.2015; Public Library of Science (PLoS)
• Subjects: Accidents; Adolescent; Adult; Adults; Age; Aged; Alcohol; Alcohol Drinking - adverse effects; Alcohol use; Alcoholic beverages; Boating; Decision making; Diving; Drowning; Drowning - epidemiology; Drowning - etiology; Exercise; Fatalities; Female; Females; Health aspects; Humans; Incidence; Leisure; Male; Males; Men; Middle Aged; Minority & ethnic groups; New Zealand - epidemiology; Perceptions; Public health; Recreation; Risk Factors; Smoking - adverse effects; Snorkeling; Socioeconomic factors; Submerging; Swimming accidents & safety; Underwater; Young Adult; New Zealand; Australia; United States > US
• ISSN: 1932-6203; 1932-6203
• DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0130545

i) to identify factors that contribute to the global trend of the higher incidence of male drowning relative to females, and; ii) to explore relationships between such factors from mortality data in New Zealand. Drownings from 1983 to 2012 were examined for: Age, Ethnicity, Site, Activity, Buoyancy and Alcohol. Conditional frequency tables presented as mosaic plots were used to assess the interactions of these factors. Alcohol was involved in a high proportion of Accidental Immersion drownings (61%) and was highest for males aged 20-24 years. When alcohol was involved there were proportionally more incidences where a life jacket was Available But Not Worn and less incidences where a life jacket was Worn. Many 30-39 year old males drowned during underwater activities (e.g., snorkeling, diving). Older men (aged +55 years old) had a high incidence of drowning while boating. Different ethnicities were over-represented in different age groups (Asian men aged 25-29, and European men aged 65-74) and when involved in different activities. Numerous interacting factors are responsible for male drownings. In New Zealand, drowning locations and activities differ by age and ethnicity which require targeted intervention strategies.