Ishtiaq Ahmed, Umar Farooq, Sundas Ishtiaq.
A 12 Year Study of Medico-Legal Aspect of Burns in Females.
J Surg Pak Jan ;19(4):136-41.

Objective: To assess medico-legal aspects, risk groups, types and severity of burns in female patients coming to the tertiary care hospital. Study design: A descriptive study. Place & Duration of study: Burns Unit Fauji Foundation Hospital Rawalpindi, from April 1997 to March 2009. Methodology: All female patients above 15 year of age reported with burn injuries were evaluated regarding their demographic details, nature and severity of burns. Circumstances leading to burn injuries and other important factors leading to homicidal or suicidal burns were also evaluated. Results: Rate of homicidal burns and suicidal burns was 16.54% and 4.32% respectively among 139 patients studied. Among these homicidal and suicidal burns, majority of females (51.08%)were less than 25 year of age, 86.21% from rural areas and 86.66% belonged to lower socio-economic group. Majority (51.72%) of them were married and 65.52% living with their in-laws at the time of incident. Flame burns (89.66%) were commonest and kerosene oil stove burst was the main cause of injuries in 89.66% cases. Most women (51.72%) were having disputes with in-laws. Among these, 48.27% female sustained 81- 90% of the total body surface area burn. Assault was done by in-laws in 34.49% patients and by husband in 20.49% patients respectively. Majority of these females (75.86%) were brought to the hospital by other relatives and 72% were brought to the hospital after 48 hours of the incident. Conclusions: Most of the women were less than 25 year of age. Majority were from the rural area and were from lower socioeconomic group. Flame burns due to kerosene oil was the commonest type.

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