Fatal Burns in a semiurban District of Central India-An Autopsy study

Burns constitute a major cause of unnatural deaths encountered in Medico-legal Practice. The present study was performed with an aim to evaluate the magnitude and socio-cultural factors related to the problem of burns in Etawah district of Uttar Pradesh. Owning to preponderance of rural and semiurban population in this area there is lack of awareness regarding safe cooking practices and various other fire safety measures which thereby stresses the need of framing various prevention strategies specific for this region to reduce the incidence of burn fatalities.

A one year retrospective study was conducted from 1 April 2016 to 31 March 2017 on burn cases that were brought to the mortuary of the district. During this period, out of 1845 cases that were subjected to medico-legal autopsy, 230 cases of burn deaths were selected for the present study.

Out of 230 cases of burn mortalities 90% of the fatalities were due to thermal burns and 10% were due to electric burns. Gender analysis revealed preponderance of female victims 149(64.8%) over male victims 81(35.2%). The commonest age group affected was 21–30 years. Married males(74%) and married females(81.8%) outnumbered unmarried males and females. Highest incidence of burn mortalities were observed in month of November(13.9%). A significantly high mortality rate was noticed in the victims with >41% burns and amongst them, the utmost mortality was reported in victims with > 81% of the burnt surface area. Septicaemia was observed as a major cause of death (57.82%) among all the cases.

The present study highlights the pattern of burn mortalities in Etawah region. We recommend organisation of awareness programmes for the residing population to promote fire safety education. For reducing or preventing ‘bride burning’ proper implementation of existing laws, along with newer stricter legislation to abolish dowry-related crime is required. Fire escape systems should be installed in home in urban settings. To ameliorate the care of people affected by burns all Hospitals should establish proper upgraded burn unit.