Authors:

Abstract

Introduction: Deaths following drowning are a common occurrence in Sri Lanka. Individuals drown in different circumstances like suicides, accidents and homicides. A study of this nature would be useful for prevention of such incidences and as a baseline for future studies.

Objectives: With regard to victims of drowning to determine; the demographic profile, circumstances, autopsy findings and contributory factors for drowning.

Methodology: Information was extracted from records of 59 drowning cases in the years 2008-2017. Data were analysed using the statistical package SPSS Version 22.

Results: Majority of deaths (37.3%) were within the age of 11-30 years. Twenty-six-point five percent (26.5%) of accidental deaths were within the age group 11-20 years. The circumstances were accident (57.6%), suicide (22 %) and not known whether accident or suicide (20.3%). The common places of accidental drowning were sea (20%), Tank (20%) and canal (18 %.) The well was the most common place for suicides (54%). Majority of victims were unemployed (37%) and labourers (25%). Froth in the nostrils (54.2%), Emphysematous expanded lungs (63%), rib indentation on the lungs (61%) froth in the airways (61%) and pulmonary oedema (66%) were observations which were suggestive of drowning.

Environmental factors (41%) and alcohol consumption (20%) are among the possible contributory factors.

Keywords: Circumstances, Contributory factors, Deaths, Drowning