Background Burns represent the leading cause of morbidity worldwide and disproportionately impact women, children, and socioeconomically disadvantaged individuals. Syrian refugees who fled conflict to land in overcrowded informal settlements across Lebanon are a particularly vulnerable population.

Objective This study aims to assess the etiology and risk factors for burns of this population.

Methods This cross-sectional, cluster-based population study adopted the Surgeons Overseas Assessment of Surgical Need (SOSAS) version 3.0 to capture data from refugees residing in informal settlements in multiple regions across Lebanon. The tool was contextualized and used to collect detailed information on burn cases sustained by refugees during the last 12 months prior to data collection. Univariate logistic regression models were performed to assess the relationship between burns and associated risk factors.

Results From the 1,468 households surveyed, a total of 223 households experienced a burn in the last 12 months. Over 63% of burns occurred in children under the age of ten years and almost 57% of burns occurred in females. More than 70% of burns resulted from hot liquid, while 17% were caused by direct heat contact. Over 3/4ths of burns occurred while preparing food (77.4%). Approximately 32% of those burned did not seek healthcare, of which almost 85% noted this was due to financial limitations.

Conclusion Burns are a common injury in the Syrian refugee population living in Lebanon. Children and women are particularly impacted, often during cooking. Multi-level interventions are necessary to reduce burn injury and improve care for those affected by burns. Community kitchens can be used to separate cooking and living environments and get stoves and hot liquids off the floor. Importantly, policies should allow for refugees to receive medical care when necessary without a major financial burden.