Date of Conferral

7-22-2025

Degree

Doctor of Public Health (DrPH)

School

Public Health

Advisor

Stacy-Ann Christian

Abstract

Unintentional drowning is a leading cause of preventable injury fatalities among youth and young adults in the United States. Despite the preventability, drowning continues to affect specific populations disproportionately. Limited research has examined demographic and environmental factors that contribute to drowning fatalities among individuals aged 5 to 25 years old in Florida. Understanding these patterns is key to informing targeted prevention strategies. This quantitative, retrospective study explored the relationship between demographic characteristics (i.e., gender, race, and ethnicity), environmental context (i.e., water type), and drowning fatalities of 5- to 25-year-olds in Florida from 2018 to 2022. Data for this study, which included a sample size of 417 unintentional drowning fatalities, were obtained from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and Florida Health Charts. A chi-square test was conducted to analyze the association between demographic variables and water types. An independent samples t test was used to examine the differences in drowning fatalities by water environment. Findings revealed no statistically significant relationships between drowning fatalities and gender, race, ethnicity, or water type. Although males and White individuals accounted for the highest number of deaths, the differences were not significant. Thie analysis indicated that more drownings occurred in open or natural water compared to pools or bath water. This study highlights drowning risks and the need for prevention strategies, especially in open water. Findings can support public health professionals and policymakers in developing targeted water safety education and evidence-based policies to reduce drowning fatalities and promote positive social change for all communities.

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