title: Burns functional disabilities among burn survivors: a study in Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital, Ghana.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the types of functional disabilities in adult and paediatric burns survivors, with specific emphasis on potential risk and socio-economic factors of burn disabilities present in Ghana.
  
  
  METHODS
  The descriptive study was carried out in Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital, Kumasi, Ghana from May 2011 to April 2012. Burn survivors who came for follow-up visits after been discharged home and had functional disability were the participants of the study. They were physically examined and interviewed using a pre-tested questionnaire after their informed consent/or that of their parents (in the cases of paediatrics burns survivors) was sought.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 70 participants consented for the study. Their ages ranged from 8/12 - 78 years, with a mean age of 12±1.7 years. Majority (60.0%, N=42) of the participants had third degree burns. The nature of disabilities of participants were mostly scar contractures (42.9%, N=30) of which 36.7% (N=11) had impeded arm elevation; 23.3% (N=7) could not fold the palm or move the digits. From the multiple regression analysis risk factors for burn victim to have disability were paediatric age (OR=11.1, P=0.043), third degree of burn (OR=6.2, P=0.001) and anatomical part affected (OR=18.3, P=0.031). Socio-economic factors that affected burn disability victims were nuclear family compensation (OR=4.2, P=0.021), community mockery/stigmatization (OR=0.1, P=0.052) and caretakers time and finance (OR=5.2, P=0.033).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The commonest functional disabilities recorded were scar contractions of the axilla region which had impeded the ability of the patients to lift the arm. Risk factors for burns disability included childhood age, third degree of burn incurred and anatomical part affected. Social factors influencing the lives of burn survivors with disability were good family and negative community interactions. Significant economical factors recorded were caretakers' time and financial constrains.
authors: Reconstructive Plastic Surgery and Burns Unit, Department of Surgery, Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital, School of Medical Sciences, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science & Technology Kumasi, Ghana.
authors: Pius
authors: P
authors: Agbenorku
keywords: Functional disability; burns survivors; economic burden; risk factors; social burden
references: Public Health. 2006 Oct;120(10):958-65
references: 16890969
references: Burns Incl Therm Inj. 1987 Oct;13(5):382-5
references: 3427494
references: J Burn Care Rehabil. 2001 May-Jun;22(3):221-7
references: 11403244
references: J Trop Pediatr. 1987 Aug;33(4):199-202
references: 3669137
references: BMJ. 2004 Aug 21;329(7463):447-9
references: 15321905
references: Ann Burns Fire Disasters. 2010 Jun 30;23(2):59-66
references: 21991199
references: Burns. 2011 Nov;37(7):1087-100
references: 21802856
references: J Trauma. 1985 Jul;25(7):575-9
references: 4009762
references: J Rehabil Med. 2007 Jan;39(1):49-55
references: 17225038
references: J Trauma. 2008 May;64(5):1349-56
references: 18469660
references: Burns. 2006 Aug;32(5):529-37
references: 16777340
references: Int Rev Psychiatry. 2009 Dec;21(6):531-8
references: 19919206
references: Burns. 2010 Dec;36(8):1309-15
references: 20537800
references: Burns. 1989 Jun;15(3):152-4
references: 2757764
references: Intensive Care Med. 2003 Mar;29(3):368-77
references: 12536269
references: Gen Hosp Psychiatry. 2006 Nov-Dec;28(6):494-502
references: 17088165
references: Inj Prev. 1996 Jun;2(2):90-1
references: 9346066
references: East Afr Med J. 2006 Aug;83(8):461-4
references: 17153661
references: Am J Phys Med Rehabil. 2006 Apr;85(4):383-413
references: 16554686
references: Ghana Med J. 2011 Jun;45(2):66-72
references: 21857724
references: Am J Psychiatry. 2005 Jul;162(7):1299-304
references: 15994712