title: Epidemiology of fatal burns in rural South Africa: a mortuary register-based study from Mpumalanga Province.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The study investigates the epidemiology of fatal burns in the predominantly rural province of Mpumalanga, South Africa.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study is cross-sectional and investigates region specific data extracted from a National Injury Mortality Surveillance System (NIMSS) and originally gathered at mortuaries. Fatal burns sustained during the 2 year period 2007 and 2008 are analysed (n=304 cases). Mortality rates by age group, sex and district were compiled and attention was paid to manner of death, location, and temporal characteristics (time of day, weekday, season).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The overall fatal burn rate was 3.8 per 100,000 inhabitants (95% CI 3.4-4.3). The highest rates were among the oldest age group (8.2/100,000; 95% CI 6.1-10.7), males (5.3/100,000; 95% CI 4.6-6.2) and in one of the three districts, Nkangala (4.8/100,000; 95% CI 3.9-5.6). Most burns were accidental (68.4%) and intentional ones (13.5%) occurred in particular among older people and in the home. Burns were sustained frequently at home (55.6%), between midnight and 5a.m. and towards the end of the week. Seasonal variations were more pronounced in Nkangala.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Fatal burns could be less common in rural than urban South Africa. As in urban South Africa, however, older people, young children, and males are more at risk. Not surprisingly, the occurrence of fatal burns is strongly related to living conditions and lifestyle, which vary even within rural areas of South Africa.
authors.affiliation: Karolinska Institutet, Department of Public Health Sciences, Division of Global Health/IHCAR, Stockholm, Sweden.
authors.forename: Lisa
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Blom
authors.forename: Ashley
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: van Niekerk
authors.forename: Lucie
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Laflamme
mesh_terms: D000059:Accidents / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D002056:Burns / Q000209:etiology / Q000401:mortality*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006708:Homicide / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012042:Registries; D012424:Rural Population; D017678:Sex Distribution; D013019:South Africa / Q000453:epidemiology; D013405:Suicide / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D013997:Time Factors; D055815:Young Adult