An Anchal (community daycare) is a cost-effective intervention to prevent 1–4 year child drowning in Bangladesh. 1,335 Anchals, covering 26 952 children, have been functioning in three sub-districts since 2013. Despite rigorous supervision, monitoring data revealed that attendance of children in Anchal is often low. Reluctance of parents and caregivers is considered as the main reason for this absence. To improve the attendance and provide additional drowning prevention measures adolescents could play an important role.

To develop adolescent brigades for child drowning prevention in rural communities of Bangladesh and evaluate their feasibility, acceptability, and effectiveness.

Feasibility and acceptability of the brigades will be assessed by FGDs and in-depth interviews with relevant respondents. A quasi-experimental study has also been designed and implemented having an intervention and a comparison area in villages where the Anchals are in operation. In all 30 villages of the intervention area the brigades have been formed. In addition to motivating parents, and caregivers for regular attendance of children in Anchal, each brigade has also been educating school children and community on drowning prevention measures, and providing first response service to the community. To measure the effectiveness, prior to implement the brigade activities baseline data have been collected and after 5 months the endline data will be collected. To collect baseline and endline data the relevant process indicators have been identified. The study duration is December to July 2018.

• The expected results include

• Adolescent brigades are feasible and acceptable

• School children’s knowledge on drowning prevention improved

• Number of community people received first response during emergencies

• Attendance of children increased in Anchals.

• Result will be presented in the conference.

• If the adolescent brigade activities are found feasible, acceptable and effective, it could be recommended as one of the child drowning prevention activities.