A five-year prevalence study of burn injury in a Nigerian teaching hospital

Burn injury has been observed as a worldwide problem. The knowledge of the epidemiology is important for planning of management and preventive programmes. This is a retrospective review of burn patients who presented with acute burn injuries between January 2006 and December 2010. Admission registers and patients' folders were the sources of information. The information obtained includes: age, gender, number of patients who died, sources of burn injury and outcome of management. A total of 407 patients with acute burn injuries were studied. Males numbered 274 (67.3%), females 133 (32.7%). A majority, 98 (24%) of burn injuries occurred in the year 2010 and mortality in the series increased progressively except for 2006 which is explainable by the strike due to industrial disputes between and among various health disciplines over the period. Mortality was highest in 2010 (30%). The prevalence was higher among males than females throughout the 5-year period. The incidence, prevalence and mortality of burn injury have remained high in this environment. We suggest a well-targeted prevention campaign program to reduce this high incidence and high mortality in burn injury in Nigeria.