Prevalence and Management Outcomes of Burns in a Teaching Hospital in Ekiti State, Nigeria: A Five-Year Review.

Abstract

Burn injuries are significant sources of morbidity and mortality globally. Despite the advances in the management of burn injuries, a great number of victims still develop complications. This study aimed at determining the prevalence and management outcomes of burn injuries in a Teaching Hospital in Ekiti State, Nigeria. The study was retrospective in nature. A total of 203 hospital records of burn patients seen between January 2015 and December 2019 were collected and analyzed, using descriptive and inferential statistics. Findings from the study revealed that half (51.7%) of the respondents were within ages 0-10 years and more than half (63.1%) were males. The study findings also revealed a relative decline in the prevalence of burn injury as the average prevalence in the years under review. Some of the reported complications were wound infection (4.9%), delayed healing (4.4%), residual wound (4.4%) and death (9.4%). In addition, the study revealed that there was no relationship between gender, age, socioeconomic factors and prevalence and management outcomes of burn in the study setting. The study recommends that efforts should be made by health workers to equip themselves with knowledge of the complex needs of burn victims and also to keep abreast with the advances in critical care.