title: Prevention of burns in developing countries.
abstract: Burns represent an important health and economic problem in Africa and in the developing countries. Prevention programs in the developing countries are still at an infant phase. It is well known that prevention includes surveillance with data analysis and reporting. With information campaigns, an effort can be made to use regulatory action, to educate the population and modify the environment. The aim of this paper is to identify the risk factors in communities in order to implement communitybased burn prevention strategies, not only on the African continent but also in other developing countries. Effective prevention programs are highlighted. Evidence regarding adequate safety legislation with policing seems to show immediate effects with multiparty involvement and statistical decrease of injury and death. Three examples are discussed where political commitment is mobilised to ensure regulatory action. Other programs are cost-effective and have long-lasting effects, but they take time. Cochrane database system reviews highlighted the problems when people were encouraged to change their lifestyle. NGOs play a definite role in developing countries, and in Bangladesh and Pakistan efforts are being made to curb acid-throwing violence. Communities consist of many groups. There must be a societal responsibility to design products a.
authors.affiliation: Tygerberg Burn Unit, Department of General Surgery, W.C. Steenkamp Department of Social Works, Tygerberg Hospital, University Stellenbosch, South Africa.
authors.forename: A E
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Van der Merwe
authors.forename: W C
authors.initials: WC
authors.lastname: Steenkamp
keywords: legislation; life style; risk factors; violence