Experience with Burn Prevention Program in North Eastern India: A Recent Study

Burn injuries are among the most devastating of all injuries and a major public health concern worldwide.Despite the fact that burn injuries are a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in India, community-based interventions in the form of multi-strategic and multi-focused preventive programmes are lacking. This study, conducted in the North Eastern Indian state of Assam, aims to reduce the occurrence of burn accidents, morbidity, and mortality from burn injuries by focusing on sensitising the community through a well-structured preventive programme. The tools used in the preventive programmes included participatory community seminars, the use of print, electronic, and social media, as well as lectures and demonstrations in schools.The analysis of inpatient and outpatient records of burn injured patients treated in the burn unit, as well as the scoring system in the school education programme and social media participants, aided in determining the impact of Burn Preventive Programs (BPP). A comparative analysis of the results in the early (Block I) and late (Block II) parts of the study period was performed for ease of assessment.. The results revealed a significant decrease in the percentage of patients reporting from areas where BPP was implemented.There was also a decrease in percent TBSA burn in the majority of patients in Block II when compared to Block I.Water was used to extinguish fires in 48.9 percent of Block I patients and 78.0 percent of Block II patients.Water was also used to cool burn wounds by 52.3 percent of Block I patients and 83.4 percent of Block II patients.While 80.9 percent of people in Block I applied inappropriate topical treatments to their wounds, only 34.6 percent did so in Block II. Increased public awareness was reflected in an increase in the percentage of patients reporting to a burn unit within 7 hours of injury and a significant reduction in firecracker burns from 21.9 percent (Block I) to 7.8 percent (Block II). Similarly, improved awareness among students was evident in the majority of students' improved scores and reduction in burns in the latter part of Block II. The findings indicate that BPP has had a positive impact on society.