2025 Volume 12 Issue 1 Pages 140-146
Introduction and Objectives: Globally, flooding is a leading cause of drowning deaths among children. Despite various preventive measures, systematic reviews evaluating their effectiveness are lacking. This systematic review aims to summarize existing literature on interventions to prevent drowning among children during floods, assess their effectiveness, and provide a basis for public health policy. The goal is to categorize and evaluate the effectiveness of different drowning prevention interventions.
Methods: A systematic review approach was used to search literature from 2000 to 2023 in databases such as PubMed, Web of Science, and Scopus. Inclusion criteria were studies on drowning prevention interventions targeted at children aged 0–19. Fourteen studies were included, and the quality of the literature was assessed using tools from the JBI Centre for Evidence-Based Healthcare. A flow diagram of the study selection process is shown in Figure 1.
Results: Integrated interventions combining water safety education with practical skills training significantly reduce the risk of drowning among children. Water safety education increased awareness by 29.5% (P < 0.05), CPR training improved survival skills by 53.35% (P < 0.01), and swimming skills training enhanced self-rescue abilities by 254.1% (P < 0.01). Comparative results of these effect sizes and their 95% confidence intervals are illustrated in Figures 2–4.
Discussion: Comprehensive educational and practical interventions are effective in enhancing children’s drowning prevention capabilities during floods. Policymakers and public health experts should promote these proven interventions in flood-prone areas. Future research should focus on developing standardized evaluation tools and assessing the long-term effectiveness and adaptability of these interventions across different regions and cultures.
