@article{ref1,
title="Mortality trends and the impact of exposure on Australian coastal drowning deaths, 2004-2021",
journal="Australian and New Zealand journal of public health",
year="2023",
author="Koon, William A. and Peden, Amy Elizabeth and Lawes, Jasmin C. and Brander, Robert W.",
volume="47",
number="2",
pages="e100034-e100034",
abstract="OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study is to characterise Australian coastal drowning trends and evaluate impact of exposure on drowning risk. <br><br>METHODS: Descriptive epidemiological analysis of unintentional fatal drowning occurring July 2004-June 2021 at Australian coastal sites (beaches, rock platforms, bays, harbours, offshore locations etc.). Total population, exposed-person and exposed-person-time rates per 100,000 population were calculated by age, sex, socio-economic status, remoteness category and pre-submersion activity. Annual trends were assessed using joinpoint regression. Exposure-based rates used estimates from Surf Life Saving Australia's National Coastal Safety Survey. <br><br>RESULTS: The cumulative unintentional coastal fatal drowning rate was 0.43 per 100,000 Australian residents (95%CI: 0.41-0.45) and did not change throughout the study period (p=0.289). The exposed-person rate was 0.67 per 100,000 coastal visitors (95%CI: 0.62-0.72), and there were 0.55 coastal drowning deaths per 10 million coastal visitor hours (95%CI: 0.51-0.59). Men, older people and residents of lower socio-economic and remote areas had higher drowning rates; rock fishing and scuba diving had the highest activity exposure-based rates. <br><br>CONCLUSIONS: Education- and policy-based coastal safety interventions should focus on identified risk factors to reduce annual coastal drowning rates. IMPLICATIONS FOR PUBLIC HEALTH: Exposure-based risk measurements are important for developing and prioritising interventions; assessments based on counts or total population measures alone may misinform prevention efforts.<p /> <p>Language: en</p>",
language="en",
issn="1326-0200",
doi="10.1016/j.anzjph.2023.100034",
url="http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.anzjph.2023.100034"
}