Preventive Care in Nursing and Midwifery Journal

Background and Objectives: Burning can cause pain, disability, and death, as well as physical, psychological, and economic consequences. Knowledge on epidemiologic characteristics of burn patients can help to plan appropriate preventive programs.

Materials and Methods: This was a cross-sectional study. Burn patients hospitalized in Ayatollah Mousavi hospital in Zanjan during 2010 to 2012 were studied. Data were collected and recorded through designed study forms; and were analyzed in the SPSS using the descriptive statistics and ANOVA and Fisher’s Exact Test.

Results: During the 2-year period, a total of 627 burn patients were admitted to the hospital. Most of the patients (64.1%) were male. Most of the burn patients (68.7%) were more than 14 year olds; and most (54.7%) were rural. Most of the patients (60.9%) had a second degree burn. Most cases were thermal burns (53.6%).

Conclusion: Our study showed that the majority of burn accidents occur in men over 14 years old. Preventive measurements and trainings are essential actions that should be placed through media, health centers,work place and schools to decrease burn accidents.