Goldman R, Kaplan G, Gurevich R, Barell V
Pediatric Division, Sheba Medical Center, Tel Hashomer.
Harefuah. 1998 Apr 1;134(7):576-80, 591, 590.
There are no epidemiological studies of drowning in Israel in the scientific literature, despite prominent reports in the media. We analyzed the extent of mortality from drowning in Israel during 1990-92, attempting to identify and characterize groups at high risk, and to determine trends and differences between Israel and other countries. Computerized death certificate files were provided by the Israel government Central Bureau of Statistics; deaths from drowning were included among external causes codes E-830, 832, E-910, E-954, E-964, E-984. In Israel, as in the United States, mortality from drowning is the fourth cause of death among all unintentional causes, and the second cause in age-groups 1-24, ranking after transport accidents. During 1990-92 there were 1.2 drownings a year/100,000 population. The highest rates were found among young non-Jews 15-24 years old (7.8/100,000) and among elderly Jews (3.5/100,000). Unintentional drowning accounted for 89% of all deaths; while about 10% were defined as suicides. Males had a rate almost 3 times greater than females, and the among Arabs was 2.4 times greater than among Jews. The 1990-92 drowning rate was slightly lower than in previous years. Drowning rates in Israel are lower than in the United States, except in the elderly. Apparently the principal reason for this difference is difference in sites of drowning. In Israel most drownings occur in the sea, so site data are unavailable for international comparisons. Careful consideration of the categories (E-codes) included in the rates, and of local registration procedures, is necessary for international comparisons. Foreign workers, tourists and other nonresidents are not included in national vital statistics. But estimations based on Ministry of Interior sources show that foreign workers (most, recent arrivals) during the last few years are an extremely high risk group. Population-based drowning rates are not an accurate estimation of drowning risk, since universal exposure to the "opportunity to drown" is assumed.
尽管媒体有大量报道，但科学文献中尚无关于以色列溺水情况的流行病学研究。我们分析了1990 - 1992年期间以色列溺水死亡的程度，试图确定并描述高危群体的特征，以及确定以色列与其他国家之间的趋势和差异。以色列政府中央统计局提供了计算机化的死亡证明文件；溺水死亡被列入外部死因编码E - 830、832、E - 910、E - 954、E - 964、E - 984之中。在以色列，与美国一样，溺水死亡率在所有非故意伤害死因中位列第四，在1 - 24岁年龄组中位列第二，仅次于交通事故。1990 - 1992年期间，每年每10万人口中有1.2人溺水死亡。最高发生率出现在15 - 24岁的年轻非犹太人群体中（每10万人口中有7.8人）以及老年犹太人群体中（每10万人口中有3.5人）。非故意伤害溺水占所有死亡人数的89%；约10%被定义为自杀。男性发生率几乎是女性的3倍，阿拉伯人的发生率是犹太人的2.4倍。1990 - 1992年的溺水发生率略低于前几年。以色列的溺水发生率低于美国，但老年人群体除外。造成这种差异的主要原因显然是溺水地点的不同。在以色列，大多数溺水事件发生在海里，因此无法获取用于国际比较的地点数据。进行国际比较时，必须仔细考虑发生率所包含的类别（E编码）以及当地的登记程序。外国工人、游客和其他非居民未纳入国家人口动态统计数据。但根据内政部资料进行的估计表明，过去几年中的外国工人（大多数是新到者）是一个极高风险群体。基于人群的溺水发生率并非溺水风险的准确估计，因为假定所有人都有“溺水机会”。
