Risk factors for childhood burns: a case-control study of Ghanaian children.
OBJECTIVE
To study risk factors for childhood burns in order to identify possible preventive strategies.


METHODS
Case-control design with pair matching of controls to cases in relation to age, sex, and area of residence. The cases and controls were identified by a community based, multisite survey. The effects of host and socioenvironmental variables reported by mothers were investigated in a multivariate analysis using conditional logistic regression.


METHODS
A developing country setting the Ashanti Region in Ghana.


METHODS
These comprised 610 cases aged 0-5 years who had been burned (as evidenced by a visible scar) and 610 controls with no burn history.


RESULTS
The presence of a pre-existing impairment in a child was the strongest risk factor in this population (OR = 6.71; 95% CI 2.78, 16.16). Other significant risk factor included: sibling death from a burn (OR = 4.41; 95% CI 1.16, 16.68); history of burn in a sibling (OR = 1.79; 95% CI 1.24, 2.58); and storage of a flammable substance in the home (OR = 1.51; 95% CI 1.03; 2.21). Maternal education had a protective effect against childhood burns, although this effect was not strong (OR = 0.76; 95% CI 0.55, 1.05).


CONCLUSIONS
Community programmes to ensure adequate child supervision and general child wellbeing, particularly for those with impairments, as well as parental education about burns are recommended, to reduce childhood burns in this region of Ghana. The public should bed advised against storing flammable substances in the home.
Forjuoh
S N
SN
Department of Maternal and Child Health, Johns Hopkins University, School of Hygiene and Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland, USA.
Guyer
B
B
Strobino
D M
DM
Keyl
P M
PM
Diener-West
M
M
Smith
G S
GS
D002056:Burns / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002669:Child Welfare; D002675:Child, Preschool; D006233:Persons with Disabilities; D004522:Educational Status; D005192:Family Health; D005260:Female; D005869:Ghana / Q000453:epidemiology; D006795:Household Products; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D016017:Odds Ratio; D012307:Risk Factors