Female Drowning: A Hidden Issue

Drowning kills more than 4,000 annually in the United States, and most people recognize it as a leading cause of death for young children and adolescents. However, most people don’t recognize females as a vulnerable stakeholder since the majority of literature on drowning focuses on children and males (Roberts, Kym, et al.).

92% of drowning deaths occur in low- and middle- income countries. Women and girls are often at higher risk of drowning in these countries due to limited access to swimming education and cultural restrictions. According to the UNICEF, women and girls spend an estimated 200 million hours daily collecting water, often in unsafe conditions. Women are at global risk because many of them lack education in swimming. Almost six in 10 men can swim, but only one in three women can (Reinhart).

Image1 : Comparison between swimming education in women and men across all religions of the world (Reinhard)

Prevention Strategies:

1.     Promote Swimming Education among Females: Encourage women and girls to learn swimming and water safety skills.

2.    Improve Water Access: Reducing the need for women and girls to fetch water can significantly lower their risks of drowning and safe their valuable time.

3.    Raise awareness: Promote education about the risks of drowning and the issue of drowning among women. Future research directions in this field should also be encouraged.

References

Counsilman-Hunsaker. “Inclusive Water Safety and Swim Education.” Campus Rec Magazine, 15 July 2024, campusrecmag.com/inclusive-water-safety-and-swim-education/. Accessed 22 Feb. 2025.

‌“Drowning.” Www.who.int, www.who.int/health-topics/drowning#tab=tab_1.

Roberts, Kym, et al. “A Scoping Review of Female Drowning: An Underexplored Issue in Five High-Income Countries.” BMC Public Health, vol. 21, no. 1, 5 June 2021, https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-021-10920-8. Accessed 20 Oct. 2021.

Reinhart, RJ. “Majority Worldwide Cannot Swim; Most of Them Are Women.” Gallup.com, 23 July 2021, news.gallup.com/opinion/gallup/352679/majority-worldwide-cannot-swim-women.aspx.