Descriptive Epidemiology of Unintentional Burn Injuries Admitted to a Tertiary-Level Government Hospital in Nepal

Abstract

This study describes the epidemiology of unintentional adult burn injury admissions in a tertiary hospital in Nepal, from 2002 to 2013, focusing on gender-specific patterns. Chi-square tests and Wilcoxon Rank Sum tests were performed. There were 819 unintentional burn admissions: 52% were male and 58% younger than 35 years. The median percentage total body surface area burned (interquartile range) was greater in females than in males (P < .001): 28% (17-40) versus 20% (12-35), and female mortality was higher (32% vs 11%). A higher proportion females were illiterate than males (48% vs 17%). Burns occurred at home (67%), work (28%), and public places (5%); gender-specific patterns were observed. Flame burns accounted for 77%, electricity 13%, and scalds 8%. Kerosene (31%) and biomass (27%) were the major fuels. Cooking, heating, and lighting were the main activities associated with burn injury. Results support interventions to reduce the use of open fires and kerosene and to promote electrical safety.

Pattern of unintentional burns: A hospital based study from Pakistan

“…These people are at high risk of getting higher severity of burns because most of the manual workers are less educated and did not take adequate precautionary measures when dealing with dangerous substances, contact with hot objects, faulty wiring, excessive use of inferior quality of CNG cylinders in automobiles and most importantly, working unsafely with high tension wires [11,12]. These findings are consistent with the findings of several other studies [7,[13][14][15]. In this study, unintentional burns by self were predominantly higher among males as compared to females.…”

Epidemiology of burn injuries in Nepal: a systemic review

“…Study by Liu et al [5] showed that burns were more common in pediatric age group which accounted for 61% in their study, whereas other five studies reported that burns were more common among the working age group population (15–59 years). Three studies by Liu et al [5], Dahal et al [6], and Sharma et al [7] reported that mean age among the female burn patients was higher than the male patients (17.3 vs. 13.3 years, 34 vs. 26 years, and 35 vs. 28 years, respectively). Among the pediatric age group, burns among the children between 0–5 years were more common than the older children [8].…”

“…Other studies also reported scald as the most common cause of burn injury among pediatric age group. One study reported electric burns as the second most common cause of injury [7]. Contact burns were reported by three studies, with highest proportion being 10.3% of all burns in pediatric patients [9].…”

“…Females were more likely to be injured in home, whereas males were most likely to be injured in workplace [7]. One study reported that 86% of childhood burn injuries occured inside the house [8].…”

“…In pediatric burns, 96% of burn victim sustained less than 20% TBSA burn. Sharma et al reported that burns sustained by female patients were significantly more than male patients (mean %TBSA 28% vs. 20%) [7]. …”