Lisa Blom1, Anders Klingberg2, Lucie Laflamme3, Lee Wallis4, Marie Hasselberg2. 1. Department of Public Health Sciences, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden. Electronic address: lisa.blom@ki.se. 2. Department of Public Health Sciences, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden. 3. Department of Public Health Sciences, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden; University of South Africa, Pretoria, South Africa. 4. Division of Emergency Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Stellenbosch University, Bellville, South Africa.
Abstract
INTRODUCTION: Little is known about gender differences in aetiology and management of acute burns in resource-constrained settings in South Africa. METHOD: This cross-sectional study is based on burn case reports (n=1915) from eight emergency centres in Western Cape, South Africa (June 2012-May 2013). Male/female rate ratios by age group and age-specific incidence rates were compiled for urban and rural areas along with gender differences in proportions between children and adults for injury aetiology, burn severity, length of stay and patient disposition. RESULTS: Children 0-4 years in urban areas had the highest burn incidence but only among adults did male rates surpass females, with fire burns more common among men 20-39 years and hot liquid burns among men 55+ years. Men had a higher proportion of burns during weekends, from interpersonal violence and suspected use of alcohol/other substances, with more pronounced differences for hot liquid burns. Despite similar Abbreviated Injury Scale (AIS) scores, men were more often transferred to higher levels of care and women more often treated and discharged. CONCLUSION: Burns were far more common among children although gender differences arose only among adults. Men sustained more injuries of somewhat different aetiology and were referred to higher levels of care more often for comparable wound severity. The results suggest different disposition between men and women despite similar AIS scores. However, further studies with more comprehensive information on severity level and other care- and patient-related factors are needed to explore these results further.
INTRODUCTION: Little is known about gender differences in aetiology and management of acute burns in resource-constrained settings in South Africa. METHOD: This cross-sectional study is based on burn case reports (n=1915) from eight emergency centres in Western Cape, South Africa (June 2012-May 2013). Male/female rate ratios by age group and age-specific incidence rates were compiled for urban and rural areas along with gender differences in proportions between children and adults for injury aetiology, burn severity, length of stay and patient disposition. RESULTS:Children 0-4 years in urban areas had the highest burn incidence but only among adults did male rates surpass females, with fire burns more common among men 20-39 years and hot liquid burns among men 55+ years. Men had a higher proportion of burns during weekends, from interpersonal violence and suspected use of alcohol/other substances, with more pronounced differences for hot liquid burns. Despite similar Abbreviated Injury Scale (AIS) scores, men were more often transferred to higher levels of care and women more often treated and discharged. CONCLUSION: Burns were far more common among children although gender differences arose only among adults. Men sustained more injuries of somewhat different aetiology and were referred to higher levels of care more often for comparable wound severity. The results suggest different disposition between men and women despite similar AIS scores. However, further studies with more comprehensive information on severity level and other care- and patient-related factors are needed to explore these results further.
Authors: Minhazul Abedin; Farah Naz Rahman; Shagoofa Rakhshanda; Saidur Rahman Mashreky; A K M Fazlur Rahman; Ahmed Hossain Journal: BMJ Paediatr Open Date: 2022-06
Authors: Anna Sorushanova; Ioannis Skoufos; Athina Tzora; Anne Maria Mullen; Dimitrios I Zeugolis Journal: J Mater Sci Mater Med Date: 2021-01-21 Impact factor: 3.896