SOCIO-DEMOGRAPHIC DETERMINANTS OF BURN PATIENTS, ADMITTED IN BURN UNIT OF AYUB TEACHING HOSPITAL ABBOTTABAD

BACKGROUND: Burns are destructive injuries that affect people out of proportion in developing countries. The aim of our study was to know about the socio-demographic determinants of burn patients, admitted in burn unit of Ayub Teaching Hospital Abbottabad.

METHODS: A cross-sectional study was carried out in burn unit of Ayub teaching hospital, in which sample of 84 patients was taken through non probability convenient sampling technique. Data was collected using a structured questionnaire by participants. The questionnaire was pre tested before adopting a final version. Informed consent was taken from all patients. Confidentiality of data was ensured. Data was analyzed using IBM SPSS 23.0.

RESULTS: Mean age of patients was 16.82±14.902 years. Age of patients was in range of 1 to 65 years. Regarding gender distribution, 47 patients (56.0%) were males and 37 patients (44.0%) were females. Among the sample of 84, 56 patients (66.7%) were from rural area and 28 (33.3%) were from urban area. Regarding the cause of injury, 82 (97.6%) injuries were accidental, 2(2.4%) were homicidal. According to the distribution of place, 62 patients (73.8%) received burn injuries at home. The maximum of patients 34 (40.5%) were having flame burn.

CONCLUSIONS: From our study, we conclude that maximum cases of burns in burn unit of Ayub teaching hospital occurred in domestic areas and were accidental in origin. Burns due to fire were the most common occurring mostly in low socioeconomic, younger and uneducated population.

KEYWORDS: Socio demographic determinants, burn injuries, educational status, developing country.