A systematic review of demographic and background factors associated with the development of children’s aquatic competence
Abstract Background Globally, drowning is a leading cause of unintentional injury and death among children. Teaching aquatic competencies (swimming skills and water safety knowledge) to children has been proposed as a prevention strategy. In Australia, however, many children are not meeting standard...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2023-08-01
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| Series: | Injury Epidemiology |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s40621-023-00447-4 |
| _version_ | 1797454140319727616 |
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| author | Charlotte Duke Hannah Calverley Lauren Petrass Jacqui Peters Kate Moncrieff Loretta Konjarski Bernadette Matthews |
| author_facet | Charlotte Duke Hannah Calverley Lauren Petrass Jacqui Peters Kate Moncrieff Loretta Konjarski Bernadette Matthews |
| author_sort | Charlotte Duke |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Globally, drowning is a leading cause of unintentional injury and death among children. Teaching aquatic competencies (swimming skills and water safety knowledge) to children has been proposed as a prevention strategy. In Australia, however, many children are not meeting standard aquatic competency benchmarks. Exploration of the connection between demographic and background factors and aquatic competencies could provide insight into why differences in acquisition of aquatic knowledge and skills occur. Main body A systematic literature review guided by the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses was performed to identify studies that reported on the association between demographic and background factors and aquatic competencies. Nine databases were searched for English language peer-reviewed studies published since 2000. Fourteen studies fulfilled all inclusion criteria. Studies were quasi-experimental or cross-sectional in design, which is considered quality level III-2 or IV, respectively, on the National Health and Medical Research Council Evidence Hierarchy. Study quality was moderate, and risk of bias was high. While aquatic competencies can be taught, this review found that factors including age, gender, geographic residence, medical conditions/disabilities, socioeconomic status, and swimming frequency were significantly associated with the demonstration and/or acquisition of aquatic competencies. Conclusion This review provides insight into demographic and background factors that are significantly associated with the development of aquatic competence. Whilst further investigation is required to increase the evidence base, these findings may assist in tailoring swimming and water safety programs to accommodate those at-risk of not achieving age-appropriate aquatic competencies. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T15:32:58Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-373d9b130c1442448429d4043c3e581b |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2197-1714 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T15:32:58Z |
| publishDate | 2023-08-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Injury Epidemiology |
| spelling | doaj.art-373d9b130c1442448429d4043c3e581b2023-11-26T12:07:08ZengBMCInjury Epidemiology2197-17142023-08-0110111910.1186/s40621-023-00447-4A systematic review of demographic and background factors associated with the development of children’s aquatic competenceCharlotte Duke0Hannah Calverley1Lauren Petrass2Jacqui Peters3Kate Moncrieff4Loretta Konjarski5Bernadette Matthews6Life Saving VictoriaLife Saving VictoriaInstitute of Education, Arts and Community, Federation UniversityDeakin UniversityDeakin UniversityVictoria UniversityLife Saving VictoriaAbstract Background Globally, drowning is a leading cause of unintentional injury and death among children. Teaching aquatic competencies (swimming skills and water safety knowledge) to children has been proposed as a prevention strategy. In Australia, however, many children are not meeting standard aquatic competency benchmarks. Exploration of the connection between demographic and background factors and aquatic competencies could provide insight into why differences in acquisition of aquatic knowledge and skills occur. Main body A systematic literature review guided by the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses was performed to identify studies that reported on the association between demographic and background factors and aquatic competencies. Nine databases were searched for English language peer-reviewed studies published since 2000. Fourteen studies fulfilled all inclusion criteria. Studies were quasi-experimental or cross-sectional in design, which is considered quality level III-2 or IV, respectively, on the National Health and Medical Research Council Evidence Hierarchy. Study quality was moderate, and risk of bias was high. While aquatic competencies can be taught, this review found that factors including age, gender, geographic residence, medical conditions/disabilities, socioeconomic status, and swimming frequency were significantly associated with the demonstration and/or acquisition of aquatic competencies. Conclusion This review provides insight into demographic and background factors that are significantly associated with the development of aquatic competence. Whilst further investigation is required to increase the evidence base, these findings may assist in tailoring swimming and water safety programs to accommodate those at-risk of not achieving age-appropriate aquatic competencies.https://doi.org/10.1186/s40621-023-00447-4Aquatic competencySwimming skillSocial determinantsDrowning preventionSwimming and water safetyAquatic education |
| spellingShingle | Charlotte Duke Hannah Calverley Lauren Petrass Jacqui Peters Kate Moncrieff Loretta Konjarski Bernadette Matthews A systematic review of demographic and background factors associated with the development of children’s aquatic competence Injury Epidemiology Aquatic competency Swimming skill Social determinants Drowning prevention Swimming and water safety Aquatic education |
| title | A systematic review of demographic and background factors associated with the development of children’s aquatic competence |
| title_full | A systematic review of demographic and background factors associated with the development of children’s aquatic competence |
| title_fullStr | A systematic review of demographic and background factors associated with the development of children’s aquatic competence |
| title_full_unstemmed | A systematic review of demographic and background factors associated with the development of children’s aquatic competence |
| title_short | A systematic review of demographic and background factors associated with the development of children’s aquatic competence |
| title_sort | systematic review of demographic and background factors associated with the development of children s aquatic competence |
| topic | Aquatic competency Swimming skill Social determinants Drowning prevention Swimming and water safety Aquatic education |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s40621-023-00447-4 |
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