Burn Patterns and Prevention Strategies in Northern Jordan: A Retrospective Hospital-Based Study

Background: Home-based scalds are the leading cause of pediatric burn morbidity; this study describes their epidemiology and prevention practices at Northern Jordan’s primary burn center. Materials and Methods: We performed a retrospective review of 107 consecutive burn cases treated between March 2022 and December 2024. Data were extracted from structured patient interviews and medical records, capturing demographics, burn etiology (scald, flame, contact), site, total body surface area (TBSA), first-aid measures, time to presentation, hospital length of stay, and surgical interventions. Descriptive statistics summarized patient characteristics; inferential analyses (χ² tests, logistic regression) identified factors associated with prolonged admission (>7 days) and need for surgery. A two-sided p-value <0.05 denoted statistical significance. Results: Patients were evenly distributed by gender (50.5% male), with a mean age of 12.8 ± 15.3 years; 39.3% were aged 0–2 years. Scalds predominated (64.5%), and 86% of injuries occurred indoors. Most patients (81.3%) presented within 24 hours; 57% remained hospitalized over one week, and 17.8% required surgical management. Trunk involvement was the sole independent predictor of surgery (odds ratio 2.7; 95% CI 1.1–6.5; p = 0.03). Although 60.5% of caregivers reported testing water temperature, overall uptake of structured prevention strategies—such as use of safety barriers and education on hazard avoidance—was low. Conclusion: Scalds overwhelmingly affect young children in Northern Jordan, highlighting an urgent need for targeted home-safety education and barrier-based prevention measures.