Document Type : Original Article
Authors
1
Non-Communicable Diseases Research Center, Ilam University of Medical Sciences, Ilam, IR Iran
2
Department of Health in Disasters and Emergencies, School of Public Health and Safety, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, I.R.Iran
3
Technical and Operations Deputy of the Pre-Hospital Emergency and Disaster Management, Guilan University of Medical Sciences, Guilan, I.R.Iran
4
Head of the Pre-Hospital Emergency and Disaster Management Center, Guilan University of Medical Sciences, Guilan, I.R.Iran
5
Safety Promotion and Injury Prevention Research Center, Institute for Health Sciences and Environment, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
6
School of Public Health and Safety, Department of Health in Disasters and Emergencies, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
10.30491/tm.2025.519420.1831
Abstract
Introduction: Drowning is a leading cause of unintentional injury-related deaths worldwide, with significant geographical variations in mortality rates. This study aims to identify high-risk drowning areas and assess epidemiological trends using Geographic Information Systems (GIS) from 2016 to 2022.
Method: A cross-sectional analytical study was conducted using data recorded by the Emergency and Medical Incident Management Center of Gilan Province. A total of 588 drowning incidents were analyzed, considering variables such as age, gender, seasonality, and geographical location. GIS software was used to map high-risk areas using Spot and Heatmap techniques, while statistical analyses were conducted in Stata. The Odds Ratio (OR) index was used to assess risk levels.
Result: Of the 588 reported drowning incidents, 497 were non-fatal, while 91 resulted in fatalities. The majority of incidents (474 cases) occurred in high-risk locations. Male individuals accounted for 77.21% of the total cases and 81.98% of fatalities, highlighting gender disparities in drowning rates. Rasht County recorded the highest number of fatalities (20 deaths), while Shaft and Sowme'eh Sara had zero reported drowning deaths. Geographic analysis using GIS mapping revealed that most drowning incidents occurred along the shorelines and river confluences, particularly in Bandar Anzali, Rasht, Astarabad, and Rudsar. Odds Ratio (OR) indicated that men had significantly higher drowning risks than women (OR = 2.57, 95% CI: 2.21–2.96), and drowning risk was notably elevated in coastal zones (OR = 3.19, 95% CI: 2.65–3.85)
Conclusion: Drowning mortality in Gilan Province is disproportionately higher among older men, primarily due to occupational exposure, risky behaviors, and environmental factors. Preventive measures such as enhanced safety regulations, swimming education programs, improved tourist signage, and stricter enforcement of occupational safety standards are recommended to reduce drowning incidents. Identifying high-risk zones through GIS analysis provides valuable insights for targeted interventions and policy development.
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