Burn prevention programs for children in developing countries require urgent attention: a targeted literature review
Asha Parbhoo1, Q A Louw, K Grimmer-Somers
1Red Cross Hospital, Physiotherapy, Klipfontein Road, Cape Town, South Africa. aparbhoo@yahoo.com
Insights
Paediatric burn prevention programs are crucial globally. Multi-pronged, community-based interventions, including education and home safety, are most effective for preventing childhood burns.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Injury Prevention
- Global Health
Background:
- Paediatric burns represent a significant global public health issue with substantial health and economic consequences.
- Both developed and developing nations face challenges in implementing effective paediatric burn prevention programs.
- This review examines international burn prevention strategies and their applicability to South Africa.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare causes, prevalence, and prevention strategies for paediatric burns in developed versus developing countries.
- To identify common and effective burn prevention strategies.
- To inform the implementation of effective burn prevention strategies in South Africa.
Main Methods:
- A systematic literature review was conducted.
- Information from population-based paediatric burn prevention initiatives was identified and narratively synthesized.
- Strategies from developed and developing countries were compared to identify common elements and evidence of effectiveness.
Main Results:
- Thirty studies from 16 countries were included, revealing similar prevention strategies across developed and developing nations.
- Multi-pronged, community-based interventions demonstrated the highest effectiveness.
- Key elements included raising awareness about burn causes, prevention methods, injury speed, and short/long-term effects. Relevant strategies for South Africa include education, child supervision in hazardous areas, and home hazard reduction.
Conclusions:
- Further research is needed to establish sustainable, community-wide paediatric burn prevention programs globally.
- Effective programs in South Africa must consider literacy levels, information access, adaptation to informal settlements, and legislated housing standards.
- Successful implementation requires commitment from government, communities, and individuals.
Background:
Paediatric burns are a significant international public health problem. Developing and developed countries report similar challenges regarding paediatric burn prevention programs. Paediatric burns requiring healthcare often incur significant health and opportunity costs, death or long-term disability. This paper reviews international burn prevention strategies, and considers implementation of effective prevention strategies in South Africa. REVIEW QUESTION: Are there differences between developed and developing countries regarding causes and prevalence of paediatric burns, prevention strategies, and evidence of effectiveness? REVIEW FRAMEWORK: Implementing effective burn prevention strategies in South Africa.
Method:
This systematic literature review identified, and narratively synthesized information from studies reporting population-based initiatives to prevent paediatric burns. Strategies from developing and developed countries were compared. Common strategies were identified, and evidence of effectiveness described.
Findings:
30 studies were included from 16 developed/developing countries, reporting similar prevention strategies. Multi-pronged community-based interventions were most effective. Common elements comprised raising awareness of how burns occur, how burns can be prevented, the speed of sustaining significant injuries, and the short- and long-term effects of burns. Burn prevention strategies relevant to South Africa were provision of education in different formats (written, pictorial and verbal) in places frequented by children and parents, monitoring children more closely in hazardous areas (e.g. kitchens), and better planning of homes to reduce hazards.
Conclusion:
More work is required to establish effective, sustainable community-wide prevention programs in developed and developing countries. Effective paediatric burn prevention programs for South Africa should acknowledge parent and child literacy, how and where information is best accessed, the need to adapt effective hazard reduction programs to informal settlements, and the importance of legislated minimum safe housing standards. This requires significant commitment from Government, communities and individuals.
Related Concept Videos
01:30Pneumonia V: Nursing management and Prevention
The nurse must practice strict medical asepsis and adhere to infection control guidelines to minimize healthcare-associated infections.
Enhance airway patency
Position the patient correctly to facilitate drainage of the affected lung segments. Manual or mechanical percussion and vibration can also be employed.
01:19Respiratory Assessment: Purpose and Indications
Objectives and Importance:
The primary goal of respiratory assessment is to evaluate patients at early risk of clinical deterioration. Since respiratory distress often precedes other signs of declining health, breathing patterns and sounds become a...
01:26Methods Of Healthcare Delivery System
Managed Care System:
The managed care system is designed to control the cost while maintaining the quality of care. The patient's care from admission to discharge is planned by the primary care provider or the case manager, also known as the gatekeeper. In a managed care system, the number of care providers is limited...
01:26Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Drug Excretion
01:26Levels of Health Promotion and Illness Prevention
In primary prevention, actions taken before disease onset prevent the disease from...
01:30Preventive Healthcare Services