Background and Aim: Burn is among the most expensive injuries which occur at all ages. Regarding the notoriety of burns and differences in population, community, economics, and cultural sectors, obtaining particular information from each area is needed to plan for prevention and treatment. Thus, the present study aimed at determining epidemiological factors related to hospitalization in the burns ward of Birjand Imam Reza hospital. Materials and Methods: This cross - sectional retrospective study was done on 1160 burn patients who hospitalized in the burn center during 6 years, (between 21 March 2007 and 21 March 2013). The necessary data was collected by means of a researcher designed questionnaire. The obtained data was analyzed by SPSS software (V: 15.5) and applying descriptive statistics including chi-square and Mann Witnietests (P≤0/05). Results: Mean age of the subjects was 24.6 20.6 years. Length of hospitalisation was 11.6 12.4 days. The majority of the patients were men (58.8 %). Among the cases, 54.1% were single24.1% were unemployed, 71.4% had either no education or only primary education, and 60.4% were provided with health insurance. It was found that the most common causes of burning were kerosene and or gasoline flame (43.9 %) and most burns were due to accidental injuries at home ( 73.1 % ). Among the patients, 37/8 % had burned body surface of 10% – 29%. Most ( 55.9 %) had a combination of 2nd degree and 3rd degree burns, of whom 14.1 % of died. Most patients were admitted in in winters (28.2 %) and autumns (26 %). There was a significant relationship between variables of burns causes in the patients (P=0.001) and the burned body surface percentages (P=0.001) and also with the season of the year. There was also a significant relationship between age groups and the percentage of burned body surface (P=0.001). Conclusion: Burns are more prevalent in men (compared to women) and in children.

Keywords: Epidemiology, Burn, Etiology, Hospitalized patients

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