Burns in Sierra Leone: a population-based assessment.
OBJECTIVE
Burns remain disproportionately prevalent in developing countries. This study aims to describe the epidemiology of burns in Sierra Leone to serve as a baseline for future programs.


METHODS
A cluster randomized, cross-sectional, countrywide survey was conducted in 2012 in Sierra Leone. With a standardized questionnaire demographics and deaths during the previous 12 months of household members were assessed with the household representative. Thereafter, 2 randomly selected household members were interviewed, elucidating whether participants had ever had a burn in six body regions and determining burn mechanisms and patterns of health care seeking behavior.


RESULTS
This study included 1843 households and 3645 individuals. 3.98% (145/3645) of individuals reported at least one burn-injury. The highest proportions of burns were reported in the age groups 0-4 years old (23/426, 5.4%) and 5-14 years old (37/887, 4.17%). The majority of burns (129/145, 89.0%) were caused by a hot liquid/object and the upper, extremities were the most commonly burned body regions, with 36% (53/145) of cases. 21% (30/145) of individuals with burns sought care from a traditional healer.


CONCLUSIONS
Burns are highly prevalent in Sierra Leone. Further research and resources should be allocated to the care and prevention of thermal injuries.
Centre for Global Surgery, McGill University Health Centre, 1650 Cedar Avenue, L9 411, Montreal, QC, Canada H3G 1A4; Department of International Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA; Surgeons OverSeas (SOS), New York, NY, USA. Electronic address: evan.wong@mail.mcgill.ca.
Evan G
EG
Wong
Surgeons OverSeas (SOS), New York, NY, USA; Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Johns Hopkins Hospital, Baltimore, MD, USA.
Reinou S
RS
Groen
Department of Surgery, Connaught Hospital, Freetown, Sierra Leone; College of Medicine and Allied Health Science (COMAHS), Freetown, Sierra Leone.
Thaim B
TB
Kamara
Department of Surgery, University of Southern California Keck School of Medicine, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
Kerry-Ann
KA
Stewart
Institute for Health and Society, and Epidemiology Division, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI, USA.
Laura D
LD
Cassidy
Institute for Health and Society, and Epidemiology Division, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI, USA.
Mohamed
M
Samai
Department of International Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA; Surgeons OverSeas (SOS), New York, NY, USA; Department of Surgery, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA.
Adam L
AL
Kushner
Department of Surgery, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA. Electronic address: swren@stanford.edu.
Sherry M
SM
Wren
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002056:Burns / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D016000:Cluster Analysis; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care; D015995:Prevalence; D012807:Sierra Leone / Q000453:epidemiology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult