Burns in sub-Saharan Africa: A review

The global burden of child burn injuries in light of country level economic development and income inequality

“…These inequalities in progress towards shared prosperity signify a call for action globally and region-specific. This study supports the notion that an essential element in addressing child burn inequalities is the link with economic development, as low income countries continue to bare the largest burden of burn mortality rates in children (Nthumba, 2016). Barriers to care in resource poor settings include limited knowledge of first aid for burns, long distances to reach these services and poor transport systems from the rural to the urban areas where specialized burn care is available; if accessed there is then the issue of limited supplies, beds and staff in burn centers (Ndiritu et al, 2006).…”

Prevention of burn injuries in low- and middle-income countries: A systematic review

“…More quality information is needed on epidemiology (surveillance and analysis) in conjunction with implementation and evaluation of preventative initiatives to prevent burns. Several epidemiological reviews [63][64][65][66][67][68] have been conducted, but these and other current studies reflect only a fraction of the disease burden as many studies are hospital-not population-based. True population-based surveillance (as evidenced by the international Burn Injury Database in the United Kingdom and the National Burn Repositories of China, Australia and New Zealand, Iran, and the United States) is imperative [69,70].…”

Descriptive epidemiological study of burn admissions to the Burns Intensive Care Unit of the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital, Kumasi-Ghana, 2009–2016

“…Nthumba [24] realized approximately the same ration in his review of burns in 14 countries in sub-Saharan Africa (1.2:1) as well as studies by Gupta et al [25], thus indicating that males are at a higher risk of being victims of burn accidents than females. Studies by Outwater et al, Queiroz et al., Hwee et al [26][27][28] and Brusselaers et al [21] have also indicated a male predominance among burn patients across the world.…”

“…The shift from scald burns to open flame burns is a cause for alarm because flame burns unlike scalds often claims the lives of most of its victims [24]. The population most affected by this aetiology are men within the age group of 20-30 years, who form part of the economically active population in most countries [23].…”