Public hospital emergency department visits due to burns in Brazil, 2009

The objective was to analyze the characteristics of burn injuries treated in emergency departments (ED) and associated factors. This was a cross-sectional study of 761 ED visits collected through the National Injury Surveillance System in 2009. The majority of patients were males (58.6%), and the mo...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Cadernos de saúde pública 2012-04, Vol.28 (4), p.629-640
Main Authors: Gawryszewski, Vilma Pinheiro, Bernal, Regina Tomie Ivata, Silva, Nilza Nunes da, Morais Neto, Otaliba Libânio de, Silva, Marta Maria Alves da, Mascarenhas, Márcio Dênis Medeiros, Sá, Naíza Nayla Bandeira de, Monteiro, Rosane Aparecida, Malta, Deborah Carvalho
Format: Article
Language:Portuguese
Subjects:
Adolescent
Adult
Age Distribution
Brazil - epidemiology
Burns - epidemiology
Burns - etiology
Burns - prevention & control
Child
Child, Preschool
Cross-Sectional Studies
Delivery of Health Care - statistics & numerical data
Emergency Service, Hospital - statistics & numerical data
Female
Hospitalization - statistics & numerical data
Humans
Infant
Infant, Newborn
Male
Middle Aged
Risk Factors
Sex Distribution
Socioeconomic Factors
Young Adult
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Summary:The objective was to analyze the characteristics of burn injuries treated in emergency departments (ED) and associated factors. This was a cross-sectional study of 761 ED visits collected through the National Injury Surveillance System in 2009. The majority of patients were males (58.6%), and the most prevalent age brackets were 30-49 years (23.1%) and 0-4 years (23%). Most burns occurred at home (62.1%), especially among females and children, and in commerce/services/industry/construction (19.1%), mainly among males 20-49 years. Work-related burns comprised 29.1% of the overall sample. Alcohol use prior to the injury was reported in 5.1% of cases. Causal agents across all age brackets were: contact with hot substances (43.6%) and exposure to fire and flames (24.2%); among the economically productive age groups, association with chemicals substances was common. Burns in children 0-14 years were associated with injuries at home, contact with heat and hot substances, and subsequent hospitalization; burns in the 15-49-year bracket were associated with exposure to fire/flames and electrical current, injuries occurring in public places, and outpatient treatment and discharge. The study highlights the importance of burn prevention strategies targeting children and workers.
ISSN:1678-4464
DOI:10.1590/S0102-311X2012000400003