Burn Deaths: An Autopsy Based Study in a Tertiary Care Hospital in Western Odisha

Burn is a major public health problem in developing countries. The dowry and related bride burning incidences makes it a bigger challenge in Indian context. Profile of burn victims vary between communities, cultures and regions. To know the socio-demographic profile of burn victims, identify the most vulnerable and to determine underlying cause, this study was taken up in the only tertiary care hospital in western Odisha. This prospective autopsy based study between Jan 2014 to Sept 2015 done in VIMSAR, Burla, included 55 such cases of burn deaths. A majority of 72.8% were females with peak incidence in 21–30 yrs age group. Eighty percentage females were married and 73.33% male victims were unmarried. Most (47.27%) cases were reported to take place in kitchens. All the female burns were within the premises of home. Fall of open flame lamps were the commonest source of fire followed by kerosene stoves. More than 70% of surface burns were detected in two third of fatal burns. The young married females in kitchen using kerosene stoves and flame lamps in rural area are identified as most vulnerable to fatal burn incidences. Specific strategies need to be developed to safe guard them.