Socioeconomic characteristic of burned children families

Objective. The aim of the study was to determine the relationship between the socioeconomic factors and chosen parameters of burns in children. Materials and method. An anonymous survey was conducted among caregivers of 200 children hospitalized due to burns in 5 Polish hospitals. The socioeconomic factors and location of the burn, surface of the burn, depth of the injury, type of treatment, and length of hospitalization were analyzed. Statistical analysis was performed using Statistica v.12. Results. Single parenthood was related with longer hospitalisation of the child, higher degree of burn wound, and more frequent operative treatment (p < 0.05). Children from families with several children (>= 3) more often had severe burns than the only children (p = 0.018). A statistically significant relationship was observed between fathers' age and the surface of burn wound, burn depth, burn severity, type of required treatment, and duration of hospitalization (p < 0.05). In the group of children with minor burns, the percentage of mothers with secondary education was lower than in mothers with primary education (p = 0.004) and with higher education (p = 0.006). In the group with average burns, the proportion of mothers with secondary education was higher than with primary education (p = 0.019). In the group of children with severe burns, the percentage of fathers with primary education was higher than the percentage of fathers with secondary (p = 0.005) and higher education (p = 0.018). The surface of burn was higher in children those fathers had lower education (p < 0.05). Fathers' unemployment was related to higher surface of burn in children (p < 0.05). Conclusions. The relationship between socioeconomic factors and analyzed parameters of burns is important to identify the groups for which preventive actions should be designed.

Automated summary

The study aimed to investigate the relationship between socioeconomic factors and chosen parameters of burns in children. The results indicated that single parenthood, fathers' age, and having multiple children in the family were associated with the severity of burns, type of treatment, and length of hospitalization for children.