Drowning deaths in Mthatha area of South Africa.

Deaths by drowning are a serious public health problem worldwide. They are under-investigated and hence under-estimated. Drowning is an important and preventable cause of death. This paper aims to estimate the deaths by drowning in Mthatha area of South Africa. Records of the medico-legal autopsies in Umtata General Hospital (UGH) were reviewed from 1993 to 2004. All cases of unnatural death are brought by the police to UGH mortuary. Three hundred and forty-three cases of death as a result of drowning were recorded over a period of 12 years (1993-2004). There was an increased trend of drowning from 2.7 per 100, 000 in 1993 to 12 per 100,000 in 2004. Males outnumbered females by 2.6:1. The incidence of drowning declines as age advances. The highest number (96) of victims was under ten years of age. Deaths due to drowning are increasing especially among male children and young adults.