Introduction: Drowning is a leading cause of unintentional injury-related deaths worldwide, with significant geographical variations in mortality rates. This study aims to identify high-risk drowning areas and assess epidemiological trends using Geographic Information Systems (GIS) from ۲۰۱۶ to ۲۰۲۲.Method: A cross-sectional analytical study was conducted using data recorded by the Emergency and Medical Incident Management Center of Gilan Province. A total of ۵۸۸ drowning incidents were analyzed, considering variables such as age, gender, seasonality, and geographical location. GIS software was used to map high-risk areas using Spot and Heatmap techniques, while statistical analyses were conducted in Stata. The Odds Ratio (OR) index was used to assess risk levels.Result: Of the ۵۸۸ reported drowning incidents, ۴۹۷ were non-fatal, while ۹۱ resulted in fatalities. The majority of incidents (۴۷۴ cases) occurred in high-risk locations. Male individuals accounted for ۷۷.۲۱% of the total cases and ۸۱.۹۸% of fatalities, highlighting gender disparities in drowning rates. Rasht County recorded the highest number of fatalities (۲۰ deaths), while Shaft and Sowme'eh Sara had zero reported drowning deaths. Geographic analysis using GIS mapping revealed that most drowning incidents occurred along the shorelines and river confluences, particularly in Bandar Anzali, Rasht, Astarabad, and Rudsar. Odds Ratio (OR) indicated that men had significantly higher drowning risks than women (OR = ۲.۵۷, ۹۵% CI: ۲.۲۱–۲.۹۶), and drowning risk was notably elevated in coastal zones (OR = ۳.۱۹, ۹۵% CI: ۲.۶۵–۳.۸۵)Conclusion: Drowning mortality in Gilan Province is disproportionately higher among older men, primarily due to occupational exposure, risky behaviors, and environmental factors. Preventive measures such as enhanced safety regulations, swimming education programs, improved tourist signage, and stricter enforcement of occupational safety standards are recommended to reduce drowning incidents. Identifying high-risk zones through GIS analysis provides valuable insights for targeted interventions and policy development.
