Burn Occurrence and Care in a Ugandan Informal Urban Settlement: A Qualitative Exploration
Ray Wipfli*, Emmanuel Balinda, Joseph Muvunyi, Nicole Tang, Maya Ennis, Jeanpaul Ditto, Nicolas Chau, Laurel Jin, Edward Chau, Elizabeth Nakamya, Frederick Oporia, Charles Ssemugabo
*Presenting author
INTRODUCTION
-
Burn injuries are a major global cause of morbidity and mortality, resulting in over 180,000 preventable deaths annually. Survivors often experience long-term disability and disfigurement with persistent physical, social, and psychological consequences.
-
Sub-Saharan Africa has disproportionately high incidence of burns per capita, particularly in informal urban settlements. There is limited research documenting burn injuries or responses to burns in informal urban settlements in SSA.
-
This study addresses this gap by examining community-level knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors related to burn injury in an informal urban settlement in Kampala, Uganda. Characterized by high population density, informal housing, and limited health infrastructure, the area presents elevated burn hazards risks alongside constrained access to timely and adequate medical care.
METHODOLOGY
A qualitative descriptive study was conducted in August 2024 Kasubi Parish in Lubaga Division. Data were collected through six key informant interviews and two focus group discussions with village health workers and mothers of young children. Transcripts were analyzed inductively using thematic analysis to identify themes. The KIIs and FGDs followed a semi-structured interview guide focused around five subject areas, including the burden of burns in the community, burn risk factors, treatment approaches, barriers to clinical care, and community recommendations.
KEY FINDINGS
Burden
- High Occurrence
- Sustained Physical+Mental Health Burden
​
Risk Factors
- Local Infrastructure
- Negligence
- Violence
- Treatment
- Limited Access to Clinical Care
- Prevalent Harmful Home Remedies
​
Barriers
- Excessive Cost
- Local Myths
- Reliance on Traditional Medicine
​
Recommendations
- Increased awareness and education programming
- Improved availability of emergency response resources
- Investment in childcare and housing infrastructure
OBJECTIVES
Primary Objective
-
Explore how burns happen and are managed at the community level
Secondary Objectives
-
Identify risk factors
-
Investigate treatment practices
-
Explore barriers to care
-
Assess individual and community burden
-
Seek solutions from impacted communities
RESULTS
CONCLUSIONS
The study findings highlight poor capacity to enact burn prevention strategies, especially those focused on young children, and widespread use of problematic home treatments. Overall, the study findings point to the need for further research and multi-sectoral cooperation to inform the development and implementation of interventions that address social, economic, and behavioral drivers of burn injuries in LMICs.