title: Pediatric burns mortality risk factors in a developing country's tertiary burns intensive care unit.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study aimed at identifying risk factors related to pediatric burns mortality in a middle income country such as Ghana.
  
  
  METHODS
  The data for the three years retrospective study (May 2009 - April 2012) was obtained from the pediatric burn admissions records and patients' folders of the Reconstructive Plastic Surgery & Burns Unit (RPSBU), Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH), Ghana. Data retrieved included: Demographic features, Total Burned Surface Area (TBSA) incurred; Aetiology of burns; Duration of the admission; Outcome of admission; Part of the body affected and Cost incurred. Ethical approval for this study was obtained from the KNUST-SMS/KATH Committee on Human Research, Publications and Ethics. Data analyses were performed with SPSS 17.0 version.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Information on 197 patients was completely retrieved for the study. Burns mortality rate for the study was identified to be 21.3% (N=42). The mean age of the 42 dead patients was 3.7±0.3 years, ranging from 0-13 years, while, males (54.8%, N= 23) outnumbered females (45.2%, N=19). The TBSA burned interquartile range was 48%. In terms of etiology of burns Scald (73.8%, N=31) was the commonest cause of injury. Mortality risk factors identified were Age <6 years (P=0.028); Scald especially hot water and soup (P=0.016); TBSA >36% (P=0.028) and Inhalation injury (P=0.040).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Age, scald, TBSA and Inhalation Injury were identified as pediatric burns mortality risk factors in a developing country such as Ghana's RPSBU. These identified factors will serve as a guideline for plastic surgeons and other health professionals practicing in countries such as Ghana.
authors.affiliation: Reconstructive Plastic Surgery and Burns Unit, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science & Technology Kumasi, Ghana ; Department of Surgery, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science & Technology Kumasi, Ghana ; Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science & Technology Kumasi, Ghana ; School of Medical Sciences, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science & Technology Kumasi, Ghana ; Kwame Nkrumah University of Science & Technology Kumasi, Ghana.
authors.forename: Pius
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Agbenorku
authors.forename: Manolo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Agbenorku
authors.forename: Papa Kwesi
authors.initials: PK
authors.lastname: Fiifi-Yankson
keywords: Pediatric burns; burns mortality; developing inhalation injury; mortality risk factors; scald