Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jan 5, 2026
Author Spotlight: A Multi-Depth Porcine Model for Comprehensive Study of Burn Injuries and Healing Processes
Published on: February 23, 2024
Management of paediatric burns in low- and middle-income countries: assessing capacity using the World Health
Imogen K Thomson1, Katie R Iverson2,3, Simeon H S Innocent4
1Sydney Medical School, University of Sydney, NSW, AU.
Insights
Low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) face resource limitations for pediatric burn care, yet perform many essential interventions. Improving global pediatric burn management requires addressing these resource gaps.
Area of Science:
- Global health
- Pediatric surgery
- Burn care research
Background:
- Burns represent a significant global health burden, with children in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) disproportionately affected.
- Effective pediatric burn management is crucial, but resource availability in LMICs is not well understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate surgical centers in LMICs using the WHO Surgical Assessment Tool (SAT).
- To identify opportunities for optimizing pediatric burn care in LMICs.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of WHO SAT database entries from 2010-2015.
- Inclusion of 1121 facilities from 57 LMICs with surgical capacity for pediatric patients.
- Assessment of human resources, equipment, and infrastructure relevant to pediatric burn care, stratified by WHO region, World Bank income classification, and facility type.
Main Results:
- Facilities averaged 147 beds and 485 pediatric operations annually.
- Significant discrepancies noted: 86% provided acute burn care, but only 37% could consistently provide intravenous fluids.
- Many centers, especially tertiary ones, performed advanced procedures like contracture release, skin grafting (41%), and amputation (50%).
Conclusions:
- LMICs possess limited resources for pediatric burn care despite performing numerous necessary interventions.
- The WHO SAT may not encompass all innovative or traditional burn care approaches.
- Global pediatric burn care presents an opportunity for significant improvement.
Background:
Burns are a leading cause of global disease burden, with children in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) disproportionately affected. Effective management improves outcomes; however, the availability of necessary resources in LMICs remains unclear. We evaluated surgical centres in LMICs using the WHO Surgical Assessment Tool (SAT) to identify opportunities to optimize paediatric burn care.
Methods:
We reviewed WHO SAT database entries for 2010-2015. A total of 1121 facilities from 57 countries met the inclusion criteria: facilities with surgical capacity in LMICs operating on children. Human resources, equipment and infrastructure relevant to paediatric burn care were analysed by WHO Regional and World Bank Income Classifications and facility type.
Results:
Facilities had an average of 147 beds and performed 485 paediatric operations annually. Discrepancies existed between procedures performed and resource availability; 86% of facilities performed acute burn care, but only 37% could consistently provide intravenous fluids. Many, particularly tertiary, centres performed contracture release and skin grafting (41%) and amputation (50%).
Conclusions:
LMICs have limited resources to provide paediatric burn care but widely perform many interventions necessary to address the burden of burns. The SAT may not capture innovative and traditional approaches to burn care. There remains an opportunity to improve paediatric burn care globally.
Related Concept Videos
01:22Burn Injuries
The damage results in the death of skin cells, which can lead to a massive loss of fluid. Dehydration, electrolyte imbalance, and renal and circulatory failure follow, which can be fatal. Burn patients are treated with intravenous fluids to offset...
01:26Flail Chest-II
Assessment:
1. Clinical Evaluation:
History:
01:30Assessment of Airway, Skin Color, and Use of Accessory Muscles
Introduction
The initial evaluation of a patient's respiratory system...
01:23Assessment of Respiration
Subjective Assessment: Nurses interview the patient to gather information directly during the subjective assessment. It includes questions about the individual's medical history, medications, and symptoms, focusing on past respiratory conditions like...
01:14SBAR II: Application of SBAR
SBAR Report from a Nurse to a Health Care Provider
S: "Hello, Dr. Smith. This is Jane, RN, from the Med Surg unit. I am calling to tell you about Ms. White in Room 210, who is experiencing increased pain and redness at her incision site. Her recent...
01:28International Nursing Organizations II
The WHO provides expert team support, including funding, vaccines, testing, and treatment tools at the country level to fight...