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Child drowning deaths in Aydin province, western Turkey, 2002–2012

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European Journal of Trauma and Emergency Surgery Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Introduction

Drowning, a major public health problem worldwide, occurs as an accident, suicide, or homicide. Deaths with an accidental origin are common in childhood in the 0–18 age group. In our study, pediatric drowning cases for whom a postmortem examination and an autopsy were conducted by Adnan Menderes University Department of Forensic Medicine were evaluated. The characteristics were determined and compared with domestic and foreign studies.

Materials and methods

A total of 39 cases in the 0–18 age group in Aydın between 2002 and 2012 were analyzed regarding age, gender, cause of death, origin, the accident scene, and the month in which the death occurred.

Results

Of the drowning cases, 33 (84.6 %) were male, and 6 (15.4 %) were female. The average age was 9.08 years, and drowning is most common in the 0–4 age group (33.3 %). The scene of the accident was an irrigation channel in 43.5 % of the cases, a river in 15.3 %, a sea in 12.8 %, a pool in 10.2 %, and a lake or pond in 7.69 %.

Conclusion

Drowning deaths are a serious and preventable public health problem worldwide. There are strong correlations among lack of adult supervision, lack of precautions, and neglect.

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Acknowledgments

We are grateful to Dr. Pınar Okyay for her assistance with the revision of this manuscript.

Conflict of interest

M.Dirlik and B.Bostancıoğlu declare that there are no conflicts of interest.

Ethical standards

In Aydın, Adnan Menderes University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Forensic Medicine is the only authorized forensic unit that serves the entire city. All autopsies are performed by the staff of the Department of Forensic Medicine under the observation of the district attorney. All of our cases were forensic cases so ethical approval is not needed.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Forensic Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Adnan Menderes University, Aydın, 09100, Turkey

    M. Dirlik

  2. Ministry of Justice, Forensic Science Institute, Antakya, Hatay, Turkey

    B. Bostancıoğlu

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  1. M. Dirlik
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  2. B. Bostancıoğlu
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Correspondence to M. Dirlik.

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Dirlik, M., Bostancıoğlu, B. Child drowning deaths in Aydin province, western Turkey, 2002–2012. Eur J Trauma Emerg Surg 41, 683–688 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00068-015-0493-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00068-015-0493-0

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