Citation

Othman N, Kendrick D. Inj. Prev. 2013; 19(3): 184-190.

Affiliation

Foundation of Technical Education Sulaimani, Sulaymaniyah, Iraq.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2013, BMJ Publishing Group)

DOI

10.1136/injuryprev-2012-040412

PMID

23024169

Abstract

BACKGROUND: It is globally reported that young children are at a higher risk of burns but little is known about the individual risk factors. This study was undertaken in 2008 to investigate factors associated with burn injuries in children aged 0-5 years. METHODS: This was a case-control study with cases recruited prospectively from children attending hospital for a new burn injury and controls recruited from children admitted for other conditions. RESULTS: A total of 248 cases and 248 controls were recruited. Cases included scalds (79%), contact burns (17%) and flame injuries (4%). Burns were most commonly caused by tea utensils (42%) and kerosene stoves (36%). Multivariable analyses found that a poor living standard (OR 5.4, 95% CI 2.6 to 11.7), having a child with a higher activity score (OR 5.3, 95% CI 3.4 to 8.5), having a history of burns in other family members (OR 2.8, 95% CI 1.5 to 5.2) and a higher number of home hazards (OR for a one unit increase in hazards score 1.32, 95% CI 1.02 to 1.70) were all associated with a significant increase in the odds of a burn injury. The presence of a second carer (OR 0.42, 95% CI 0.2 to 0.7) and having disability (OR 0.14, 95% CI 0.03 to 0.6) were protective factors. CONCLUSIONS: This information about risk factors for burn injuries can be used to target preventive interventions towards families at the greatest risk of injury.

Language: en