Domestic fire injuries treated in New Zealand hospitals 1988-1995.
OBJECTIVE
To describe demographic features of people discharged from New Zealand hospitals following injury caused by fire and flame in domestic locations.


METHODS
Review of hospital discharge data for the years 1988-1995.


RESULTS
From 1988-1995 there were 1493 discharges from New Zealand hospitals with injury as the result of fire and flame in domestic locations. Age-standardised hospitalisation rates for fire related injury over the period have been stable, with an overall discharge rate of 5.45 hospitalisations per 100000 person years. Male discharges exceeded female in all years (RR 1.97, 95% CI 1.73-2.14). Stratification by age indicated that discharge rates were highest among New Zealanders aged over 75 years and under fifteen years. Maori discharge rates exceeded non-Maori over all age groups (RR 3.3, 95% CI 2.82-3.58).


CONCLUSIONS
Maori discharge rates for fire related injury in the home are substantially higher than non-Maori in all age groups, and highlight the importance of developing culturally appropriate injury prevention strategies. Social and material determinants of injury need to be addressed through public policy, provision of quality housing and community development initiatives.
Department of Public Health, Wellington School of Medicine. mduncanson@wnmeds.ac.nz
M
M
Duncanson
A
A
Woodward
J
J
Langley
M
M
Clements
R
R
Harris
P
P
Reid
D000061:Accidents, Home / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002056:Burns / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000208:ethnology / Q000517:prevention & control; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D005390:Fires; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009520:New Zealand / Q000453:epidemiology; D010351:Patient Discharge / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D017678:Sex Distribution