Exploring burn first aid knowledge and water lavage practices in Uganda: A cross-sectional study

Area of Science:

• Global Health
• Emergency Medicine
• Public Health

Background:

• Low- and middle-income countries face higher burn-related morbidity and mortality.
• Effective prehospital burn first aid (BFA) is critical for improving patient outcomes.
• This study investigated BFA knowledge and practices in Uganda, a region with significant burn burdens.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the level of Burn First Aid (BFA) knowledge among burn victims, caregivers, and visitors.
• To evaluate current BFA practices, specifically water lavage usage.
• To identify factors associated with BFA knowledge and water lavage practices.

Main Methods:

• A cross-sectional study was conducted at a tertiary hospital in Kampala, Uganda.
• Interviewer-administered questionnaires collected data from 404 participants (burn victims, caregivers, visitors).
• BFA knowledge was assessed, and logistic regression analyzed associations with demographic variables.

Main Results:

• A vast majority (83.9%) had no prior BFA information, and 97.0% lacked first aid training.
• Only 5.4% demonstrated adequate BFA knowledge (≥80% score), with a mean score of 56±13.9%.
• Water lavage was used by only 27.7% of burn victims; no significant associations were found with demographic factors.

Conclusions:

• There is a critical deficit in Burn First Aid knowledge and practices among the general population in Uganda.
• Urgent need for community-based initiatives to enhance BFA education and improve burn care.
• Addressing these knowledge gaps is paramount to reducing burn-related morbidity and mortality.