Risk factors for kerosene stove explosion burns as seen at Kenyatta National Hospital in Kenya

Abstract

Background The kerosene stove is a common cooking appliance in lower and middle income households in Kenya and when it explodes, it causes thermal bums which is a life threatening injury. Women tend to be victims more frequently since traditionally they are the ones who are involved in cooking. Objectives The aim of the study was to document risk factors predisposing to kerosene stove explosion burns as seen at Kenyatta National Hospital. Materials and Methods. The study was prospective cross-sectional descriptive study carried out at the Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH). Forty-eight patients were included in the study and those who met the inclusion criteria, were recruited over a period of 6 months from November 2010 to April 20 II. The data was collected using a structured questionnaire and SPSS 17.0 was used to analyze it. Outcome variables were: percentage burns, depth of burn and presence or absence of inhalational burns. Analysis was done by associating occurrence of injury to: age, sex, socioeconomic status tSES) and educational level. Charts and tables were used to present the results. Results The mean age of patients who sustained kerosene stove explosion burns was 23.6 years (SD±11.7) with the commonest age group being 20-39 years. The average burn surface area was 33.9% with a minimum of2% and maximum of95 %.( SD±21). More females were affected than males by a ratio of7:3 and ninety two percent of those who got these bums were either from poor or lower middle socio-economic class. Stove explosions occurred mainly during cooking viii and when kerosene refill was being done. Most of the patients (63%) reported having bought fuel from fuel vendors and almost all explosions were caused by the wick type of stove (98%). Conclusion From the study, young females, from poor socioeconomic back ground are at risk of kerosene stove explosion burns. The wick stove is a common cause of burns especially when users unwittingly refill it with kerosene when already lit resulting in an explosion. Prevention can be done through the use of written warnings on the stoves, since 75% of those who sustained these burns were literate.