Epidemiology of Burns in Rural Bangladesh: An Update

Abstract

Each year, approximately 265,000 deaths occur due to burns on a global scale. In Bangladesh, around 173,000 children under 18 sustain a burn injury. Since most epidemiological studies on burn injuries in low and middle-income countries are based on small-scale surveys or hospital records, this study aims to derive burn mortality and morbidity measures and risk factors at a population level in Bangladesh. A household survey was conducted in seven rural sub-districts of Bangladesh in 2013 to assess injury outcomes. Burn injuries were one of the external causes of injury. Epidemiological characteristics and risk factors were described using descriptive as well as univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses. The overall mortality and morbidity rates were 2 deaths and 528 injuries per 100,000 populations. Females had a higher burn rate. More than 50% of injuries were seen in adults 25 to 64 years of age. Most injuries occurred in the kitchen while preparing food. 88% of all burns occurred due to flame. Children 1 to 4 years of age were four times more likely to sustain burn injuries as compared to infants. Age-targeted interventions, awareness of first aid protocols, and improvement of acute care management would be potential leads to curb death and disability due to burn injuries.

Epidemiology of Fall Injury in Rural Bangladesh

“…As part of the Saving of Lives from Drowning (SoLiD) project, a large baseline survey was conducted from June–November 2013 in seven purposively selected sub-districts—Matlab North, Matlab South, Daudkandi, Chandpur Sadar, Raiganj, Sherpur Sadar and Manohardi—covering a population of approximately 1.16 million people in 51 unions [ 12 , 13 ]. The data collection method for this survey has been described earlier, and is summarized below [ 14 ].…”

Animal-related injuries and fatalities: evidence from a large-scale population-based cross-sectional survey in rural Bangladesh

“…A population-level injury severity index was developed based on indicators like anatomical and physiological profiles of an injury, post-injury immobility, post-injury hospitalisation, surgical treatment, post-injury disability, number of days an individual required assistance and the number of days lost at work or school — information collected as part of the baseline census 14. A linear combination of a set of variables were accounted for to come up with a custom index of severity.…”

Physical Trauma and Its Consequences in Rural and Semi-Urban Regions of Low and Middle Income Countries

“…Although children are also affected by RTAs and falls common causes of trauma in this group for rural and semi-urban regions is burns. Most of the burn injuries to children in these regions happens in the kitchen during cooking but may occur in other activities [45][46][47]. The use of open fires for cooking in areas is unsafe to children and elderly and ignorance on fire dangers are some of the contributing factors to burn accidents.…”

“…In Uganda, it was found that burn is the leading cause of injury to children and in one hospital in Iran up to 47% of the burn cases were children less than 16 years of age [48]. Elsewhere in Bangladesh, a population-based study indicated that to every 100,000 children, 528 sustain burn injury of whom two may die while others recover with substantial impairments [45]. However, some studies reported that youth sustain burn injuries even more than children do.…”