Psychosocial Determinents of Burn Victims

Burn incidents are one of the major causes of mortality and severe morbidity in the modern day world. Objective: The study objectives were to study the relationship between the psychosocial factors and burn incidents in the population and to identify the most important predictors of burn incidents while controlling the other factors studied. Design: A case-control study Place and Duration of Study: The burn unit of Mayo Hospital Lahore .From July 2007 to Sept. 2007. Subjects and Methods: A community based case-control study with 1:1 case to control ratio was conducted. The case was defined as any burn victim that was admitted in the burn unit of Mayo hospital Lahore and the controls were matched for age in years. Interviews were conducted by the members of group of 4 th year MBBS KEMU through pre-tested and structured questionnaire. Results: A total of 90 persons (45 cases and 45 controls) were recruited in the study. Overall 37% were males and 63% were females. In bivariate analysis the psychosocial factors found significantly related with the burn victims were tension with life partner (OR=6.143; CI=1.262 – 29.295) and improper sui gas installation (OR=4.164; CI=1.2392–13.996). However in multivariate analysis it was observed that after controlling for all the factors studied the strongest association was exhibited by tension in relationship with life partner. (OR= 26.291;CI=1.044 – 662.387) Conclusion: Burn incidents in our society are not due to single factor. Different psychosocial factors are involved in the occurrence of such incidents.