Demographic characteristics and clinical conditions of admitted survivors of a capsized migrant boat in the Gambia

@article{bittaye2026demographic,
  title = {{Demographic characteristics and clinical conditions of admitted survivors of a capsized migrant boat in the Gambia}},
  author = {Sheikh Omar Bittaye and Ebrima Bah and Kelvin Thomas and Musa Cham and Maimuna Danso and Mariam Jaw and Saikou Jabbie and Omar Cham and Kajali Camara and Baboucarr Sowe and Lamin ES Jaiteh and Lamin BA Jaiteh and Lucky Onofa and Ousman Sanyang and Lamin Saidyfaye and Abdoulie Keita and Mustapha Bittaye and Ousman Nyan},
  journal = {BMC Public Health},
  year = {2026},
  month = jul,
  doi = {10.1186/s12889-026-28644-y},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-026-28644-y},
  note = {CC BY-NC-ND 4.0},
}

TY  - JOUR
TI  - Demographic characteristics and clinical conditions of admitted survivors of a capsized migrant boat in the Gambia
AU  - Sheikh Omar Bittaye
AU  - Ebrima Bah
AU  - Kelvin Thomas
AU  - Musa Cham
AU  - Maimuna Danso
AU  - Mariam Jaw
AU  - Saikou Jabbie
AU  - Omar Cham
AU  - Kajali Camara
AU  - Baboucarr Sowe
AU  - Lamin ES Jaiteh
AU  - Lamin BA Jaiteh
AU  - Lucky Onofa
AU  - Ousman Sanyang
AU  - Lamin Saidyfaye
AU  - Abdoulie Keita
AU  - Mustapha Bittaye
AU  - Ousman Nyan
PY  - 2026
DA  - 2026/07/22
JO  - BMC Public Health
DO  - 10.1186/s12889-026-28644-y
UR  - https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-026-28644-y
AB  - Introduction: Irregular migrants from various African countries risk their lives traveling by sea to Europe. These migrants pay from personal and family resources to travel using unsafe small boats which can capsize on their way, resulting in disaster. This study assesses the demographic characteristics and clinical condition of admitted survivors of a capsized boat carrying such migrants from The Gambia. The migrant boat started its journey from the Jinack Island off the Atlantic Ocean coast of The Gambia in the evening of the 31st December 2025 and capsized in Gambian waters in the early hours of the 1st January 2026.  Method: This retrospective descriptive hospital study was conducted at Edward Francis Small Teaching Hospital (EFSTH), Banjul, from the 1st January to 12th January 2026. All survivors admitted at EFSTH after rescue from the capsized boat were recruited into the study. Data was collected on their demographic characteristics and clinical condition and analyzed using STATA/SE 14.2 and simple proportion was calculated for discrete variables.  Results: One hundred and seventeen survivors were accounted for after the migrant boat capsized. Out of this, 44 (37.6%) survivors were admitted at the EFSTH. The proportion of females admitted amongst the total female survivors was higher compared to the male (80.7% vs. 25.3%). The mean age of the admitted patients was 23.9 years (SD 6.5) and the majority 23 (52.3%) were within the youth age group. There was one child (2.2%) and 8 (18.2%) were within the adolescent age group (10–19 yrs). The majority 23 (52.3%) of the patients were male. Gambians accounted for 23 (52.3%); other nationalities included Senegalese 9 (42.8%), Guineans 8 (38.1%) and Malians 2 (9.5%). Trauma-related minor injuries were the most common 14 (31.8%) clinical condition. Other complications related to drowning or near- drowning were hypothermia 6 (13.6%) and pulmonary oedema 2 (4.5%). All patients were discharged and there were no mortalities.  Conclusion: This study has provided an insight into the high risk groups affected and most common clinical conditions related to a capsized migrant boat. It highlights the extreme vulnerability of children, women and young adults who undertake the hazardous migration across the Atlantic. The study will help countries to anticipate and prepare better emergency response in future similar disasters.
SN  - 1471-2458
ER  -