A 10-year audit of burns at Kalafong Hospital

Abstract

Kalafong Hospital is a secondary hospital situated to the west of Pretoria. It serves as the regional burns centre for Gauteng province north of the Jukskei river. It mainly serves a poor population. This is a retrospective review of a 10-year period, looking at both numbers and the aetiology of burns treated by this unit. Only adult cases – patients over the age of 12 – were assessed. Over this period, a total number of 1046 patients were admitted and treated by this unit, consisting of 634 males and 406 females. The period covered, includes a period when the government has been expending massive amounts of funds to electrify townships and rural areas. Despite this, however, the majority of burn wounds are still caused by open flames and paraffin stoves.