Swimming skill development among rural children under limited infrastructure: The stakeholders’ perspectives

Abstract

© 2019, Indian Journal of Public Health Research and Development. All rights reserved. Drowning is one of the most common causes of death among young children in Thailand. Swimming skill and water safety lessons were part of the possible prevention strategies for drowning as they provide children with the required skills and knowledge to keep themselves safe. However, limited study to understand in how children in rural area develop their swimming skill. The qualitative study aims to assess the need of swimming program of primary school students in rural setting of Thailand and explore the opportunity to conduct the program for school children. Group discussion were conducted in three groups of stakeholder; primary school children, teacher, and the community leaders in northern part of Thailand. The field notes were transformed into an organized note for analysis. The findings revealed that school children described their swimming lessons as a life skill which they do not learn in school. Lack of swimming pool, water safety lessons, and instructor were found in school curriculum in primary school level. Majority of children developed their swimming skill in natural water bodies taught by peers, family members. Information gained from school teachers and community leaders indicated their willing to support swimming lessons in the community. Lack of infrastructures in the developing countries is one of the barriers to promote swimming skills among school children in rural setting. The swimming program in the community could be started in collaboration of stakeholders where available infrastructure.