Newspaper reports: a source of surveillance for burns among women in Pakistan

Our study attempts to describe the demographics, characteristics of victims and perpetrators, and circumstances leading to burn events among females in Pakistan.

Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) systematically collected data on burns among women using newspaper reports from January 2004 till December 2005. We analyzed the aggregated data and estimated burn rates.

A total of 222 burn events were reported from 2004 to 2005; complete data were not available for all variables. Adults (>or=18 years) constituted 74% (91/123) of cases with 95% (121/127) being married. Most burns were caused by bursting of stoves (34%; 64/189) or victims set-on fire (33%; n = 63/189). Burns using acids accounted for 13% (25/189). Husbands (52%; 51/98) and in-laws (23%; 23/98) were the perpetrators in known burn events. Burns were classified as accidental in half of cases (51%; 97/189) and related to domestic issues in a quarter (25%; 47/189). There were 49% of (92/189) burns that were reported as intentional. The mean annual rate of burns among women (15-64 years of age) was found to be 33 per 100,000.

Newspaper reports are good source of surveillance when information is otherwise limited. Majority of burns (51%) were classified as accidental while 49% were reported as intentional, though there is a limitation in the accuracy of reported accidental events. There is a dire need for systematic data collection and devising preventive strategies for this important public health problem that remains largely neglected in Pakistan.