Profile and Pattern of Suicidal and Homicidal Burn Victims at a Tertiary Care Hospital in Northern India

To determine the demographic and socio-cultural factors, pattern and risk factors of the burn cases. An additional objective was to assess the factors affecting outcomes of burn injury cases.

The present prospective epidemiological study was carried out among suicide and homicidal burn victims seeking care at Maharishi Markandeshwar Institute of Medical Sciences and Research (MMIMSR), Mullana between May 1st 2010 to December 31st 2011. After obtaining an informed consent, the required data was collected using a pre-designed and pre-tested proforma.

Female patients (55.91%) out numbered the male patients (44.09%). Majority of the patients had primary level of education (31.71%) and most of females (35.43%) were married for less than 5 years. A cooking appliance was the source of burn in more than 50% of the females. 81.69% of the suicidal cases and 57.78% of the homicidal cases succumbed to burns. 51.07% died who were doused with water as an immediate response. Among the victims who responded by shouting or running, 44.44% died and 36.11% recovered

The results of this study clearly highlighted the specific epidemiological features of burns patients in our area, and this should provide the necessary information to develop adequate burn prevention programmes, thereby reducing the frequency of burns and burn-related deaths.