Spatial analysis of pediatric burns shows geographical clustering of burns and 'hotspots' of risk factors in New South Wales, Australia

David Goltsman; Zhe Li; Eleanor Bruce; Siobhan Connolly; John G Harvey; Peter Kennedy; Peter K M Maitz

doi:10.1016/j.burns.2016.02.026

Spatial analysis of pediatric burns shows geographical clustering of burns and 'hotspots' of risk factors in New South Wales, Australia

Burns. 2016 Jun;42(4):754-62. doi: 10.1016/j.burns.2016.02.026. Epub 2016 Mar 19.

Authors

David Goltsman¹, Zhe Li², Eleanor Bruce³, Siobhan Connolly⁴, John G Harvey⁵, Peter Kennedy², Peter K M Maitz²

Affiliations

¹ Burns Unit, Concord Repatriation General Hospital, Concord, NSW, 2130, Australia; Sydney Medical School, The University of Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia. Electronic address: dgoltsman@optusnet.com.au.
² Burns Unit, Concord Repatriation General Hospital, Concord, NSW, 2130, Australia; Sydney Medical School, The University of Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia.
³ School of Geosciences, Madsen Building F09, University of Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia.
⁴ New South Wales Agency for Clinical Innovation, Statewide Burn Injury Service, Australia.
⁵ Sydney Medical School, The University of Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia; The Children's Hospital Burns Research Institute, Burns Unit, The Children's Hospital at Westmead, Westmead, NSW, Australia.

PMID: 27005585
DOI: 10.1016/j.burns.2016.02.026

Abstract

Objective: Pediatric burns are a significant cause of morbidity and mortality, and it is estimated that more than 80% are preventable. Studies among adults have shown that burns risk are geographically clustered, and higher in socioeconomically-disadvantaged areas. Few studies among children have examined whether burns are geographically clustered, and if burn prevention programs are best targeted to high-risk areas.

Method: Retrospective analyses examined the 2005-to-2014 NSW Severe Burns Injury Service data. Geospatial imaging software was used to map the relative-risk and clustering of burns by postcodes in Greater Sydney Area (GSA). Cluster analyses were conducted using Getis-Ord and Global Moran's I statistics. High- and low-risk populations and areas were examined to ascertain differences by sociodemographic characteristics, etiology and the extent of the burn.

Results: Scalds were the most common types of burns and boys were at greater risk than girls. There was significant clustering of burns by postcode area, with a higher relative risk of burns in western and north-western areas of Sydney. The high-risk clusters were associated with socioeconomic disadvantage, and areas of low burns risk were associated with socioeconomic advantage. In both high- and low-risk areas burns occurred more frequently in the 12-24 months and the 24-36 months age groups. The implication of this study is that pediatric burns risk clustering occurs in specific geographic regions that are associated with socioeconomic disadvantage. The results of this study provide greater insight into how pediatric populations can be targeted when devising intervention strategies, and suggest that an area-targeted approach in socioeconomically-disadvantaged areas may reduce burns risk.

Keywords: Burns prevention; Health policy; Pediatric burns; Plastic surgery; Trauma.

MeSH terms

Adolescent
Burns / epidemiology*
Child
Child, Preschool
Cluster Analysis
Female
Humans
Infant
Infant, Newborn
Male
New South Wales / epidemiology
Retrospective Studies
Risk Factors
Social Class*
Socioeconomic Factors
Spatial Analysis