Exploring Burn Severity in Domestic Violence: A Cross-Sectional Study Assessing Medium Associations and Implications

Abstract

Objective: To explore the relationship between the medium of burns and medical severity among victims of
domestic violence. Specifically, we investigate the prevalence of burn mediums, categorize the severity of
medical outcomes, and examine the association between the two factors.
Material and Methods: It was cross-sectional study and data was collected from 250 participants involved
in domestic violence incidents, sourced from Accident & Emergency Department of Department of Mayo
Hospital Lahore and filtered at the Medicolegal Clinic King Edward Medical University Lahore. Participants
were categorized based on gender and age group. Medical severity was assessed based on skin reactions,
while burn mediums encompassed scalds, dry/flame burns, electrocution, and chemical burns. Statistical
analyses, including frequency distribution and association tests, were conducted to elucidate the relationship
between burn mediums and medical severity.
Results: Scalds emerged as the most common burn medium, with a significant association observed between
scalds and heightened medical severity (p = 0.001). The majority of participants exhibited severe medical
outcomes, underscoring the profound impact of domestic violence on victims' physical well-being.
Conclusion: Our findings highlight the distinct implications of different burn mediums on medical severity
in domestic violence incidents. Tailored interventions and preventive measures are imperative to mitigate the
risk of severe injuries and enhance support for victims.
Keywords: Domestic Violence, Burns, Medical Severity, Scalds, Degree of Burns, Medicolegal