Routine fishing and boating practices of deceased fishermen while still alive
| Variable | Fishermen (n=70) |
| Time worked in fishing industry | |
| Do not know | 2 (3) |
| <1 year | 7 (10) |
| 1–10 years | 47 (67) |
| >10 years | 14 (20) |
| Routinely fished at night | |
| Yes | 58 (83) |
| No | 12 (17) |
| Able to swim* | |
| Yes | 22 (31) |
| No | 43 (61) |
| Do not know | 5 (7) |
| Ever used a lifejacket when fishing | |
| Yes | 4 (5) |
| No | 66 (94) |
| Ever used other type(s) of buoyancy device when fishing | |
| Yes† | 6 (9) |
| No/Do not know | 64 (92) |
| Used to go fishing in bad weather | |
| Yes | 31 (44) |
| No/Do not know | 39 (55) |
| Ever drank alcohol or used drugs while fishing | |
| Yes‡ | 17 (24) |
| No/Do not know | 53 (76) |
| Method(s) of power of fishing boat most commonly used§ | |
| Engine | 27 (40) |
| Sails, alone or with paddles | 4 (5) |
| Paddles only | 36 (54) |
| Ever fished from a poorly maintained fishing boat§ | |
| Yes | 25 (37) |
| No/Do not know | 42 (62) |
Data shown are N (%).
*Swimming ability of the person who drowned, as reported by the family member, colleague or community member who completed the questionnaire on their behalf.
†In all cases, the other type of buoyancy device reported was a large plastic container (such as an empty plastic fuel or water container).
‡In all cases where drug use was reported, the drug taken was marijuana (khat).
§Data are shown for 67 fishermen who fished from boats. All of these reportedly fished from boats made from wood. Boat overloading was rarely reported (4/67; 5%). Three fishermen fished only from the shore.