SELF-ESTEEM IN MALE AND FEMALE PATIENTS OF FACIAL BURN INJURIES IN KARACHI

Facial burn injury becomes a mental, physical and social stigma of our society which affects the victim’s self-esteem. A cross-sectional study was conducted to assess self-esteem in female victims of facial burns. Around 100 male and female burn patients were selected from two burn unit hospitals of Karachi. The survey employed the State Self-Esteem Scale (SSES) (Heatherton & Polivy, 1991) At a significance of p=0.0001, the data shows that there was a difference between the means of self esteem of male and female burn patients of Karachi. Males had statistically significant slightly higher score of self esteem 79±6 than female burn patients 70±7.8. Regression analysis on age and self-esteem revealed that age did not influence self-esteem of respondents. The factors which contribute to self esteem are gender, occupational status, number of dependant members, total no. of family members and marital status . Health care professionals, doctors and nurses working with such patients need to encourage them in coping with their lifestyle and normal settings. Social and moral support is an important factor to generate positivity in improving self-esteem of burn patients, family, friends; relatives need to be adequately guided in reducing the level of anxiety and depression related to low-self esteem.