Access to Essential Medications for Burn Management Among Rural Communities in India: A Community-Based...

Introduction Burn injuries remain a major public health concern, particularly in rural communities of low- and middle-income countries, where timely access to essential medications is often limited by socioeconomic and healthcare-related barriers. This study assessed access to essential burn management medications among adults residing in rural communities and identified demographic factors associated with medication access. Materials and methods A community-based cross-sectional survey was conducted among rural adults over a six-month period from May to October 2023 by the Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery. A multistage cluster sampling technique was used to recruit the participants. Data were collected using a study-developed, interviewer-administered questionnaire comprising 20 items, including five demographic items and 15 questionnaire items assessing five domains of medication access: accessibility, affordability, availability, utilization, and awareness. Responses were recorded using a five-point Likert scale, generating total scores ranging from 0 to 60. Descriptive statistics, independent t-tests, one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA), correlation analysis, and multiple linear regression analysis were performed, with statistical significance set at p < 0.05. Results Of the 600 eligible participants, 565 (94.2%) completed the survey. The mean overall access score was 39.6 ± 10.8, indicating a moderate level of access to essential burn management medications. Accessibility demonstrated the highest domain score, whereas affordability was the lowest-scoring access domain, indicating that financial affordability may represent an important challenge to medication access in the study population. Significant associations were observed between access scores and age, educational status, occupation, and monthly family income (all p < 0.001), whereas sex was not significantly associated (p = 0.094). Multiple linear regression analysis identified higher educational attainment and household income as the strongest independent predictors of better medication access, whereas increasing age independently predicted poorer access. The questionnaire demonstrated excellent internal consistency (Cronbach's α = 0.88) and good test-retest reliability (intraclass correlation coefficient {ICC} = 0.84). Conclusions Access to essential burn management medications among rural adults was moderate, with affordability representing the greatest challenge despite relatively good geographical accessibility. Socioeconomic status, educational attainment, occupation, and age were significantly associated with medication access. Strengthening financial protection measures, ensuring the uninterrupted availability of essential burn medications, and improving community awareness may improve equitable access to essential burn medications in rural populations.