A study of energy-related injuries from hospital admissions among children and adults in South Africa.
BACKGROUND
Burn and ingestion injuries are common in developing countries because of poor access to safe energy sources, crowded living conditions, and insufficient knowledge of potential risks. The purpose of this study is to understand the scope of burn and ingestion injuries due to various energy source usages in South Africa.


METHODS
Patients at 16 regional hospitals throughout South Africa presenting with an energy-related injury between 2006 and 2012 were interviewed to obtain demographics and injury characteristics.


RESULTS
A total of 12,443 patients were included in this study. Children aged 1-2 years predominantly experienced burn and ingestion injuries (21%). Liquid burns (30%) were more common than flame burns (14%). Chi-squared tests show that age was significantly related to degree of burn, type of burn, and severity of burn (p<0.001). Non-intentional injuries (45%) were more frequent than self-inflicted or assault injuries. Temporal and seasonal injury trends reflect usage patterns. Burn injuries result in longer hospital length of stay than ingestion injuries.


CONCLUSIONS
Non-intentional liquid burns and ingestions to infants and babies were most common in this study, with many injuries also occurring among young adults. It is advised that interventions targeting low-income communities be conducted to increase awareness of burn and ingestion injuries.
Graduate School of Public Health, San Diego State University, San Diego, CA, United States. Electronic address: ashleygevaartdurkin@gmail.com.
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Gevaart-Durkin
Research and Education, Paraffin Safety Association of Southern Africa, Cape Town, South Africa.
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Swart
Graduate School of Public Health, San Diego State University, San Diego, CA, United States.
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Chowdhury
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D002056:Burns / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000208:ethnology / Q000209:etiology; D002057:Burns, Chemical / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D015601:Injury Severity Score; D007902:Length of Stay; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012307:Risk Factors; D016728:Self-Injurious Behavior / Q000453:epidemiology; D017678:Sex Distribution; D013019:South Africa / Q000453:epidemiology; D014754:Violence / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D055815:Young Adult
Burn injury; Ingestion injury; Kerosene; Paraffin; South Africa; Unintentional injury