Characteristics of paediatric burn injuries seen in the tertiary emergency centre, South Africa.

IF 1.2 Q2 MEDICINE, GENERAL & INTERNAL

South African Family Practice Pub Date : 2025-01-08 DOI:10.4102/safp.v67i1.6009

Ntsovelo Mugwena, Rule Human, Maria M Geyser

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引用次数: 0

Abstract

Background: Burn injuries cause significant morbidity and mortality, with prevalence in developing countries such as South Africa. This study aimed to determine the characteristics and referral patterns of burn injuries.

Methods: A retrospective observational study was conducted in a single emergency centre, Kalafong Provincial Tertiary Hospital, from 01 January 2021 to 31 December 2021. The study included patients 13 years with burn injuries.

Results: A total of 266 patients were identified. Males (n = 144, 54.1%) had a higher prevalence of incurring burn injuries. The majority of injuries were secondary to scald burns (n = 237, 89.1%). A total of 208 (78.2%) patients had a percentage of total body surface area (%TBSA) of 10%, and 257 (96.6%) had superficial partial-thickness burns. Only 77 (28.9%) cases were from referral centres and there was no relationship between referral pattern and %TBSA. Majority (n = 248, 93.2%) received no pre-hospital wound care. Only 108 (40.6%) patients were admitted and the median length of hospital stay (interquartile range [IQR]) was 7 days (2 to 9). There was a significant relationship between the length of hospital stay and %TBSA burns (p 0.001).

Conclusion: The pattern of burn injuries in patients is similar to previous studies carried out predominantly in townships in South Africa. Most referrals were found to be appropriate and complied with institutional burn injury admission protocol, although pre-hospital wound care was inadequate.Contribution: Primary burn injury care is vital to reduce morbidity and mortality, and development of programmes for public awareness of burn injuries remains crucial.

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来源期刊

South African Family Practice MEDICINE, GENERAL & INTERNAL-

CiteScore

1.50

自引率

20.00%

发文量

审稿时长

25 weeks

期刊介绍： South African Family Practice (SAFP) is a peer-reviewed scientific journal, which strives to provide primary care physicians and researchers with a broad range of scholarly work in the disciplines of Family Medicine, Primary Health Care, Rural Medicine, District Health and other related fields. SAFP publishes original research, clinical reviews, and pertinent commentary that advance the knowledge base of these disciplines. The content of SAFP is designed to reflect and support further development of the broad basis of these disciplines through original research and critical review of evidence in important clinical areas; as well as to provide practitioners with continuing professional development material.