Child burn injury in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania: results from a community survey

: Roman IM, Lewis ER, Kigwangalla HA, Wilson ML

Publisher: TAYLOR & FRANCIS LTD

: 2012

: International Journal of Injury Control and Safety Promotion

: INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF INJURY CONTROL AND SAFETY PROMOTION

: INT J INJ CONTROL SA

: 19

: 2

: 135

: 139

: 5

: 1745-7300

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/17457300.2011.628753

The objective of this study was to identify the incidence of burn injuries among children in a sub-Saharan urban area and describe contributing factors in the home environment. A cross-sectional household survey was conducted in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania between 8 and 22 July 2009. Demographic characteristics of participants were reported using descriptive statistics. Bivariate analyses using Pearson's chi-square tests for categorical variables were used to explore possible associations. Burns represented 16.3% of reported injuries. The one-month incidence was calculated to be 1.73%. The most common contributor to burn injury was open flame 36.9%, followed by hot liquids 33.8%. Most burns occurred in urban areas with 88% occurring in the home. A significant association with burn injury was found in the 0-4 age category. There exists a continued need for research examining the mechanisms of safety provision in the home in low resource settings, especially concerning burn injury.