LAWRENCE Oifoghe, MBBS, MPH, PUBLIC HEALTH SCIENCES, KING'S COLLEGE LONDON,UK, 42 WESTON STREET, SE1 3QD, London, United Kingdom, 0207848 6640, lawrenceoifoghe@hotmail.com

Abstract

Introduction: The trend in burns and scalds injury hospitalisation is said to be declining since the last two decade specifically since 1987 in Scotland. This study described the pattern of this decline over a ten-year period. Methods: The data collection was from two main sources; the National hospitalisation data (SMR01) and the Accident and emergency data from CHIRPP programme. Minitab and SPSS were used for analysis and expressed using descriptive statistics. Rate of hospitalisation per 100,000 were calculated using the mid-year population as denominator. Results: The hospitalisation rate for burns and scalds injuries in Scotland during the ten-year period has remained essentially stable. The under 2 year old are the most at risk group, more males than females were hospitalised, scalding remains the most common cause followed by contact burns, the kitchen and living room are the place where most of these injuries occur, children from lower socio-economic group were at higher risk of hospitalisation. The mean length of stay in hospital was less than one-week, the upper limb and trunk were the most commonly injured part of the body. Greater Glasgow and Lothian health boards had the highest incidence. Seasonal variation did not influence the incidence of burns injuries. Conclusion: The trend in the incidence of burns and scalds hospitalisation need to be interpreted with caution since hospitalisation data has a number of limitations. There is need for further research utilising data from varied sources and over a longer period to establish the true burden of this problem.

Learning Objectives:

• 1)To define the scale of burns/scalds injuries among children in scotland.
• 2)To examine the trend of these injuries over a 10-year period (1990 to 2001)
• 3)To outline the existing preventive measures and make recommendations for other possible preventive measures.

Keywords: Epidemiology, Prevention

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.