• Evan G Wong, Reinou S Groen, Thaim B Kamara, Kerry-Ann Stewart, Laura D Cassidy, Mohamed Samai, Adam L Kushner, and Sherry M Wren.
• Centre for Global Surgery, McGill University Health Centre, 1650 Cedar Avenue, L9 411, Montreal, QC, Canada H3G 1A4; Department of International Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA; Surgeons OverSeas (SOS), New York, NY, USA. Electronic address: evan.wong@mail.mcgill.ca.
• Burns. 2014 Dec 1; 40 (8): 1748-53.

PurposeBurns remain disproportionately prevalent in developing countries. This study aims to describe the epidemiology of burns in Sierra Leone to serve as a baseline for future programs.MethodsA cluster randomized, cross-sectional, countrywide survey was conducted in 2012 in Sierra Leone. With a standardized questionnaire demographics and deaths during the previous 12 months of household members were assessed with the household representative. Thereafter, 2 randomly selected household members were interviewed, elucidating whether participants had ever had a burn in six body regions and determining burn mechanisms and patterns of health care seeking behavior.ResultsThis study included 1843 households and 3645 individuals. 3.98% (145/3645) of individuals reported at least one burn-injury. The highest proportions of burns were reported in the age groups 0-4 years old (23/426, 5.4%) and 5-14 years old (37/887, 4.17%). The majority of burns (129/145, 89.0%) were caused by a hot liquid/object and the upper, extremities were the most commonly burned body regions, with 36% (53/145) of cases. 21% (30/145) of individuals with burns sought care from a traditional healer.ConclusionsBurns are highly prevalent in Sierra Leone. Further research and resources should be allocated to the care and prevention of thermal injuries.Published by Elsevier Ltd.

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