Willcox-Pidgeon Stacey, Franklin R C, Devine S
Royal Life Saving Society- Australia, PO Box 558, Broadway, NSW, 2007, Australia.
College of Public Health, Medical and Veterinary Sciences, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD, 4810, Australia.
BMC Public Health. 2025 May 23;25(1):1911. doi: 10.1186/s12889-025-23104-5.
Drowning is a global public health issue, with minority populations, including migrants, experiencing significant disparities in drowning. The World Health Organization recommends learning to swim as a strategy to reduce drowning. In Australia, migrants are identified as a priority population for drowning prevention, accounting for approximately one-third of all drowning deaths.This study aimed to identify swimming and water safety programs aimed at adult migrant populations in Australia and to explore how these programs are meeting the needs of migrant adults.Using a qualitative multiple case study methodology a desktop review was conducted of 30 publicly accessible swimming and water safety programs across Australia aimed at migrant communities. From this review, six programs were purposively selected for in-depth analysis. Interviews and focus groups with 63 participants (program, managers, swim teachers and program participants), were conducted, guided by the Health Belief Model and Theory of Planned Behaviour. Data was thematically analysed using a deductive approach.Four overlapping key themes with 14 sub-themes were identified: (1) Motivations for establishing programs for migrant adults, (2) Perceived barriers to participation, (3) Addressing cultural and socio-economic determinants of health and (4) Factors and challenges to program success. Findings revealed that drowning among migrant communities was the catalyst for establishing programs, and that staff consciously design these swim programs to make programs accessible and relevant to migrants. This includes offering single-gender programs, providing culturally appropriate swimwear, having bilingual teachers, low or no cost participation fees and ensuring training pathways to employment in the aquatic industry.Swimming and water safety programs that acknowledge and respond to migrants' needs and characteristics offer multiple benefits beyond drowning prevention, including improved physical, social and mental health, and positive settlement experiences. These programs highlight the importance of acquiring water safety awareness, knowledge and skills, and how this can influence generational attitudes and behaviour towards drowning risk and water engagement. Drowning is a complex public health issue, with collaboration among multisectoral stakeholders required to create an impact and reduce inequities, especially for vulnerable populations such as migrant adults.
溺水是一个全球性的公共卫生问题，包括移民在内的少数群体在溺水方面存在显著差异。世界卫生组织建议将学习游泳作为减少溺水的一项策略。在澳大利亚，移民被确定为溺水预防的重点人群，约占溺水死亡总数的三分之一。本研究旨在确定针对澳大利亚成年移民群体的游泳和水上安全项目，并探讨这些项目如何满足成年移民的需求。采用定性多案例研究方法，对澳大利亚各地30个面向移民社区的可公开获取的游泳和水上安全项目进行了桌面审查。通过此次审查，有目的地选择了6个项目进行深入分析。以健康信念模型和计划行为理论为指导，对63名参与者（项目管理人员、游泳教师和项目参与者）进行了访谈和焦点小组讨论。采用演绎法对数据进行了主题分析。确定了4个相互重叠的关键主题和14个子主题：（1）为成年移民设立项目的动机，（2）参与的感知障碍，（3）应对健康的文化和社会经济决定因素，以及（4）项目成功的因素和挑战。研究结果表明，移民社区的溺水事件是设立这些项目的催化剂，工作人员有意识地设计这些游泳项目，以使项目对移民来说易于参与且具有相关性。这包括提供单性别项目、提供符合文化习惯的泳衣、配备双语教师、收取低费用或不收取费用，并确保有通往水上行业就业的培训途径。承认并回应移民需求和特点的游泳和水上安全项目除了预防溺水外，还带来了多种益处，包括改善身体、社会和心理健康，以及积极的定居体验。这些项目强调了获得水上安全意识、知识和技能的重要性，以及这如何能够影响代际对溺水风险和水上活动的态度和行为。溺水是一个复杂的公共卫生问题，需要多部门利益相关者之间的合作才能产生影响并减少不平等现象，特别是对于成年移民等弱势群体而言。
