Caregiver characteristics in childhood burns: A prospective analytical cross sectional study
Keywords:
Caregivers, Child, Burns, Health behaviourAbstract
Introduction: Unintentional childhood burns are
prevalent in sub-Saharan Africa. We sought to
determine the characteristics of the caregivers
involved in the setting of these injuries.
Methods: A prospective analytic cross-sectional
study of the characteristics of caregivers and
households of children with burns presenting to our
department from January 2019 to January 2020.
Primary outcome was caregiver at time of burn
injury. Secondary outcomes were the nature of burn,
severity of burn and the time to presentation. Chi
square and Fisher’s exact test were used for analysis
as appropriate. Multivariate analyses of the factors
predictive of the outcome variable were performed.
Significant values were set at p<0.05.
Results: Sixty children were seen within the study
period. The caregivers at the time of the injury were
predominantly the mothers [N=39 (65%)]. School
age children, caregivers other than mothers and burns
in the bedroom were significant predictors of
occurrence of flame burns (P=0.02,0.02 and 0.04
respectively). The severity of the burns bore no
significant relationship with the caregiver
characteristics. Children who were looked after by
their mothers had a higher prevalence of reporting
to the clinic on the day of burn than other relatives
(49% vs 19%). The occurrence of burns at night was
a significant predictor of delay in presentation
(p=0.01).
Conclusion: Mothers were the predominant
caregivers. Children not under the care of their
mothers were more likely to sustain flame injuries.
Burns that occurred at night resulted in a delay in
presentation.
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