• Mable Taoi, Iris Wainiqolo, Berlin Kafoa, Bridget Kool, Asilika Naisaki, Eddie McCaig, and Shanthi Ameratunga.
• Research Unit, College of Medicine, Nursing and Health Science, Fiji National University, Suva, Fiji.
• Burns. 2012 Aug 1; 38 (5): 758762758-62.

BackgroundOver 95% of burn deaths are estimated to occur in low-and-middle-income countries. However, the epidemiology of burn-related injuries in Pacific Island Countries is unclear. This study investigated the incidence and demographic characteristics associated with fatal and hospitalised burns in Fiji.MethodsThis cross-sectional study utilised the Fiji Injury Surveillance in Hospital database to estimate the population-based incidence and contextual characteristics associated with burns resulting in death or hospital admission (≥12h) during a 12-month period commencing 1st October 2005.Results116 people were admitted to hospital or died as a result of burns during the study period accounting for an overall annual incidence of 17.8/100,000 population, and mortality rate of 3.4/100,000. Most (92.2%) burns occurred at home, and 85.3% were recorded as unintentional. Burns were disproportionately higher among Fijian children compared with Fijian-Indian children with the converse occurring in adulthood. In adults, Indian women were at particularly high risk of death from self-inflicted burns as a consequence of 'conflict situations'.ConclusionBurns are a significant public health burden in Fiji requiring prevention and management strategies informed by important differences in the context of these injuries among the major ethic groups of the country.Copyright © 2011 Elsevier Ltd and ISBI. All rights reserved.

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