Individual-level predictors of inpatient childhood burn injuries: a case-control study

Area of Science:

• Pediatrics
• Public Health
• Epidemiology

Background:

• Pediatric burn injuries represent a significant, yet preventable, public health concern in Iran, contributing to substantial morbidity and mortality.
• This study focuses on identifying individual-level risk factors for severe burn injuries requiring hospitalization in children within East Azerbaijan Province.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess individual-level predictors associated with severe burn injuries in hospitalized children.
• To inform targeted prevention strategies for pediatric burns in the Iranian context.

Main Methods:

• A hospital-based case-control study design was employed.
• Data were collected from 281 burn victims (cases) and 273 hospital-based controls, frequency-matched for age, gender, and urbanity.
• Bivariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were utilized to identify significant predictors.

Main Results:

• Key predictors for severe burn injuries included childhood Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) (OR = 2.82), flammability of clothing (OR = 1.60), daily television watching (OR = 1.31), playing outdoors (OR = 1.32), and higher economic status (OR = 1.37).
• Child's age was inversely associated with burn risk (OR = 0.73), while increasing caregiver age showed a protective effect (OR = 0.94).

Conclusions:

• Childhood ADHD, child's age, television viewing habits, outdoor play, elevated economic status, and flammable clothing are identified as major risk predictors for burn injuries in Iranian children.
• Findings underscore the need for tailored public health interventions addressing these specific risk factors to reduce the burden of pediatric burns.