3. Electronic Theses and Dissertations (ETDs) - All submissions
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Item Mortality in paediatric burns victims: a retrospective review from 2009 - 2012 in a single centre(2016) Jugmohan, BenBackground. Childhood mortality is high in low- and middle-income countries. Burns are one of the five leading causes of childhood injury mortality in South Africa (SA). While there is an abundance of literature on burns in the developed world, there are far fewer publications dealing with childhood mortality related to burns in Africa and SA. Objective. To describe the mortality of children admitted to a dedicated paediatric burns unit, and investigate factors contributing to reducing mortality. Methods. A retrospective review was performed of patients admitted to the Johnson and Johnson Paediatric Burns Unit, Chris Hani Baragwanath Academic Hospital, Johannesburg, SA, between May 2009 and April 2012. Results. During the study period, 1 372 patients aged ≤10 years old were admitted to the unit. There were 1 089 admissions to the general ward and 283 admissions to the paediatric burns intensive care unit (PBICU). The overall mortality rate was 7.9% and the rate for children admitted to the PBICU 29.3%; 90.8% of deaths occurred in children aged ≤5 years. 89.5% of chidren admitted with an inhalational injury died. No child with a burn injury >60% of total body surface area (TBSA) survived. Conclusions. Our overall mortality rate was 7.9%, and the rate declined significantly over the 3-year study period from 11.7% to 5.1%. Age ≤5 years, the presence of inhalational injury, burn injury >30% of TBSA and admission to the PBICU were significant risk factors for mortality.Item The socio demographic profile and other characteristics of adult burns patients treated at Johannesburg tertiary hospitals(2014) Ncedani, AndiswaIntroduction: This is the descriptive study of the socio demographic profile and other characteristics such as the burn injury details and socio economic characteristics of adult burn injury patients treated at Johannesburg Tertiary Hospitals (JTH) during the study period. Relevant stakeholders can use this information in the efforts to reduce preventable burn injuries. Method: Prospective study where all adult burn patients in the burns unit, trauma/surgical wards during the study period were eligible to participate in the study. The information was extracted from the medical files (such as hospital classification, date of birth (DOB), type of burn, type of management done to date etc), this was followed by an interview done by principal investigator only, using a questionnaire to gather the information on patients’ demographic details, socio economic information, income details and burn injury details. Descriptive statistics were used to define the profile of burn patients and other characteristics. Results: The results revealed the description and the profile of adult burn patients: a male (71%), African (94%), unmarried (70%), mean age of 35.6 years. He was most likely to have a secondary school qualification (62%), full time employed possible (51%) in the industrial sector, stays with 2-5 people in his household. He was likely to be originally from outside the Gauteng Province (58%). He sustained burns injuries of 10-29% TBSA, while at home (94%), from flames (68%). He remembered (92%), his activity prior to the burn incident and thought that the burn could have been prevented (82%). Conclusion: Burns injuries were reported to be preventable. The burn injury-prevention program should be targeted to males, in the working age groups, residing in one roomed dwelling or informal settlements. Patients with poor judgement, predisposing medical conditions such as epileptics, those that have modified their electricity supply and heat sources should be prioritised for burn injury-prevention programs.