Elsevier

Burns

Volume 23, Issue 6, September 1997, Pages 478-483
Burns

Scientific and clinical paper
Paediatric burns and associated risk factors in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

https://doi.org/10.1016/S0305-4179(97)00046-6Get rights and content

Abstract

This is a case-control study conducted at two major public units for paediatric burn injuries in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Cases (n = 94) were 0–11-year-old Brazilian children admitted to one of these two burn units. Controls (n = 148) were 0–11-year-old children admitted to the paediatric clinics of the two hospitals where the cases were chosen and from another hospital placed at the same geographic region. Odds ratios (OR) based on logistic regression and 95 percent confidence intervals (95%-CI) were estimated for a number of putative risk factors. The risk of burns was higher for children who lived in crowded households (OR = 2.2; 95%-CI = 1.1–4.7), were not the first-born (OR = 2.5; 95%-CI = 1.2–5.2), had a pregnant mother (OR = 5.0; 95%-CI = 1.2–21.8), had a mother recently dismissed from a job (OR = 7.0; 95%-CI = 1.5–33.9) and had recently moved residence (OR = 4.9; 95%-CI = 1.7–14.3). A history of previous accident had a significant protective effect among males who lived in good environmental conditions (OR = 0.3; 95%-CI = 0.1–0.7), whereas no significant effect was detected in any other strata of gender and living conditions. Proper regulation of design and production of industrial products such as alcohol and domestic stoves, coupled with adequate social support and health education programmes could contribute to lower the incidence of severe burn injuries.

References (22)

  • E. McLoughlin et al.

    The causes, cost, and prevention of childhood burn injuries

    American Journal of Diseases in Childhood

    (1990)
  • Cited by (42)

    • Poverty, population density, and the epidemiology of burns in young children from Mexico treated at a U.S. pediatric burn facility

      2018, Burns
      Citation Excerpt :

      Several studies have examined risk factors associated with burns in young children in developing countries. Studies from Peru and Brazil have identified many diverse socioeconomic variables that may lead to childhood burn injuries [6,7]. In a study conducted in Peru, researchers found that socioeconomic factors such as lack of water supply, low familial income, and crowding were factors that put young children at a higher risk for burn injuries [7].

    View all citing articles on Scopus
    View full text