title: Characteristics of fatal and hospital admissions for burns in Fiji: a population-based study (TRIP Project-2).
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Over 95% of burn deaths are estimated to occur in low-and-middle-income countries. However, the epidemiology of burn-related injuries in Pacific Island Countries is unclear. This study investigated the incidence and demographic characteristics associated with fatal and hospitalised burns in Fiji.
  
  
  METHODS
  This cross-sectional study utilised the Fiji Injury Surveillance in Hospital database to estimate the population-based incidence and contextual characteristics associated with burns resulting in death or hospital admission (≥12h) during a 12-month period commencing 1st October 2005.
  
  
  RESULTS
  116 people were admitted to hospital or died as a result of burns during the study period accounting for an overall annual incidence of 17.8/100,000 population, and mortality rate of 3.4/100,000. Most (92.2%) burns occurred at home, and 85.3% were recorded as unintentional. Burns were disproportionately higher among Fijian children compared with Fijian-Indian children with the converse occurring in adulthood. In adults, Indian women were at particularly high risk of death from self-inflicted burns as a consequence of 'conflict situations'.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Burns are a significant public health burden in Fiji requiring prevention and management strategies informed by important differences in the context of these injuries among the major ethic groups of the country.
authors.affiliation: Research Unit, College of Medicine, Nursing and Health Science, Fiji National University, Suva, Fiji.
authors.forename: Mable
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Taoi
authors.forename: Iris
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Wainiqolo
authors.forename: Berlin
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Kafoa
authors.forename: Bridget
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Kool
authors.forename: Asilika
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Naisaki
authors.forename: Eddie
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: McCaig
authors.forename: Shanthi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ameratunga
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002056:Burns / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology / Q000401:mortality; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D005367:Fiji / Q000453:epidemiology; D006760:Hospitalization / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007194:India / Q000208:ethnology; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012307:Risk Factors; D055815:Young Adult