title: Epidemiology of operative burns at Kijabe Hospital from 2006 to 2010: pilot study of a web-based tool for creation of the Kenya Burn Repository.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  In order to implement effective burn prevention strategies, the WHO has called for improved data collection to better characterize burn injuries in low and middle income countries (LMIC). This study was designed to gather information on burn injury in Kenya and to test a model for such data collection.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study was designed as a retrospective case series study utilizing an electronic data collection tool to assess the scope of burn injuries requiring operation at Kijabe Hospital from January 2006 to May 2010. Data were entered into a web-based tool to test its utility as the potential Kenya Burn Repository (KBR).
  
  
  RESULTS
  174 patients were included. The median age was 10 years. There was a male predominance (59% vs. 41%). Findings included that timing of presentation was associated with burn etiology (p=0.009). Length of stay (LOS) was associated with burn etiology (p<0.001). Etiology differed depending on the age group, with scald being most prominent in children (p=0.002).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Burn injuries in Kenya show similarities with other LMIC in etiology and pediatric predominance. Late presentation for care and prolonged LOS are areas for further investigation. The web-based database is an effective tool for data collection and international collaboration.
authors.affiliation: Department of Plastic Surgery, University of Tennessee College of Medicine Chattanooga, Chattanooga, TN 37403, USA. edale@uthsc.edu
authors.forename: Elizabeth L
authors.initials: EL
authors.lastname: Dale
authors.forename: Melissa A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Mueller
authors.forename: Li
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Mary D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Fogerty
authors.forename: Jeffrey S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Guy
authors.forename: Peter M
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Nthumba
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D002056:Burns / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007630:Kenya / Q000453:epidemiology; D007902:Length of Stay; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010865:Pilot Projects; D015995:Prevalence; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D017678:Sex Distribution; D055815:Young Adult