An observational study to inform potential drowning intervention strategies among fishing communities in the lake zone of Tanzania (DRIFT)

Lake Victoria, Africa's largest lake, is surrounded by an abundance of lakeside communities and supports a huge fishing industry. A recent study in Uganda suggested that drowning is a common threat within these communities. Perceived risk of drowning among fisher-folk on Lake Victoria is high, and possibly of greater concern than Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) infection. Yet anecdotal evidence from Tanzanian communities suggests that risky behaviours associated with drowning are common practice. DRIFT was a mixed-methods study. We first obtained estimates of the drowning incidence among the lake-side communities by collecting data on all deaths occurring in each community over the past two years. Second, data on risk factors associated with drowning, risky behaviours in the fishing communities, perceived health risks and threats, and perceptions of potential interventions were collected from fishermen and the wider communities at eight lakeside fishing villages through structured surveys/questionnaires, in-depth interviews, focus group discussions, in-depth death reviews and observational analyses of behaviour. Preliminary data on social and economic impacts of drowning deaths were collected by interviewing family members and colleagues of victims