Trends in mortality from drowning, Mexico, 1979-2005

Objective. To examine the trends in mortality from drowning in Mexico and each of its federal states during the period from 1979–2005. Methods. Mortality rates and trends were estimated for the study period from Mexico’s official data based on the International Classification of Diseases, 9th and 10th revisions. Results were analyzed by age group, sex, and year registered, as well as by state and size of city or town of residence. Results. From 1979–2005, there were 107 319 deaths by drowning registered. Themortality from drowning rate decreased 65.31% (from 6.58 per 100 000 inhabitants in 1979–1981 to 2.28 per 100 000 inhabitants in 2003–2005). This decrease was evident in all the age groups (ranging from 68.10% among 5–9 year olds to 54.30% among 1–4 years) and by state (ranging from 87.19% in Colima to 36.58% in Nayarit). During the three-year period from 2003–2005, drowning mortality was relatively greater among men and boys than among women and girls (rate: 5.46 (95%CI: 5.15–5.80); among theage groups 1–4 years (4.27 per 100 000) and 60 years or older (3.37 per 100 000 inhabitants); in the Tabasco state (5.92 per 100 000 inhabitants); and among towns with fewer than 2 499 inhabitants (4.03% per 100 000 inhabitants). Conclusions. In Mexico, the drowning mortality drowning rate is on a downward trend, although it remains a serious public health problem. Intensified efforts are needed to harness information regarding accidentals death from this cause, both from the epidemiological surveillance angle as well as through the implementation of eradicating interventions.