Characteristics of fatal and hospital admissions for burns in Fiji: a population-based study (TRIP Project-2)

Type Journal Article - Burns
Title Characteristics of fatal and hospital admissions for burns in Fiji: a population-based study (TRIP Project-2)
Author(s)
Volume 38
Issue 5
Publication (Day/Month/Year) 2012
Page numbers 758-762
URL https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22342176
Abstract
BACKGROUND:
Over 95% of burn deaths are estimated to occur in low-and-middle-income countries. However, the epidemiology of burn-related injuries in Pacific Island Countries is unclear. This study investigated the incidence and demographic characteristics associated with fatal and hospitalised burns in Fiji.

METHODS:
This cross-sectional study utilised the Fiji Injury Surveillance in Hospital database to estimate the population-based incidence and contextual characteristics associated with burns resulting in death or hospital admission (≥12h) during a 12-month period commencing 1st October 2005.

RESULTS:
116 people were admitted to hospital or died as a result of burns during the study period accounting for an overall annual incidence of 17.8/100,000 population, and mortality rate of 3.4/100,000. Most (92.2%) burns occurred at home, and 85.3% were recorded as unintentional. Burns were disproportionately higher among Fijian children compared with Fijian-Indian children with the converse occurring in adulthood. In adults, Indian women were at particularly high risk of death from self-inflicted burns as a consequence of 'conflict situations'.

CONCLUSION:
Burns are a significant public health burden in Fiji requiring prevention and management strategies informed by important differences in the context of these injuries among the major ethic groups of the country.

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