Perceptions, Causes, and Socioeconomic Effects of Drowning in Artisanal Fishing Communities

Drowning is an under-recognized occupational hazard in Ghana's marine and inland fishing communities. This study examined the perceptions, causes, and effects of drowning in these sectors through a cross-sectional survey of 151 respondents, utilizing structured questionnaires with a 5-point Likert scale. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, independent sample t-test, Mann-Whitney U-test, Kruskal-Wallis test, and One-Way ANOVA. The results indicated that perceptions and causes of drowning were significantly higher in inland fisheries (MSP = 3.2 ± 0.2; MSC = 4.1 ± 0.1) compared to marine fisheries (MSP = 2.7 ± 0.1; MSC = 3.6 ± 0.2) (Mann-Whitney U-test, p < 0.05). In the marine fisheries, the primary causes of drowning were poor swimming decisions (MSC = 3.49), overloaded boats (MSC = 3.73), and extreme weather conditions (MSC = 3.15). Conversely, in inland fisheries, the significant causes were poor swimming decisions (MS = 4.58), overloaded boats (MSC = 4.56), poor knowledge of wave patterns (MSC = 4.31), submerged tree stumps (MSC = 4.15), and extreme weather conditions (MSC = 4.08). Regarding the effects of drowning, the main effects of drowning from both inland and marine fisheries were death (MSinland = 4.63 and MSmarine = 4.08) and financial stress (MSinland = 4.31 and MSmarine = 3.51). Based on these findings, it is recommended that fisheries-specific strategies, including awareness programs and infrastructure development, such as tree stump removal, be urgently implemented to reduce drowning incidents in Ghanaian fishing communities.