Background: Ethnic minorities and Indigenous populations experience significant disparities in treatment of facial and neck burn injuries. However, research focused on burn injuries in Indigenous populations remains limited (1). This study aims to review the incidence and clinical outcomes of facial and neck burn injuries for Māori compared to other ethnicities.
Methods: We conducted a retrospective review of all burn patients referred to Waikato Hospital Plastics Surgery unit between 1st January 2024 till 31st December 2024. Data collected included demographics, burn characteristics (location, % TBSA, depth, mechanism) and length of stay. Ethnicity was self-identified. Statistical analysis was performed. Outcomes measured were the pattern of facial/neck burns, hospital admission rates and length of stay.
Results: Among 593 burn patients, 117 (19.7%) had facial/neck burns. Māori patients comprised 39.3% of total number of burn patients (46/117)and 53.1% of admitted patients (26/49) were Māori. Admitted Māori patients were younger (mean age 23.52 vs 32.03 years old in non-Maori) and had a longer hospital stay (mean length of 27.54 days vs 9 days in non-Māori) and these results were statistically significant (p < 0.05). Māori patients had a higher mean TBSA (5.51% vs. 4.72%) than non-Māori. Significant number of Māori referrals came from distant rural areas like Whakatane (2.5 hours) and Gisborne (5 hours).
Conclusion: This study identifies a clear inequity where Māori experience a higher incidence, greater severity, and younger age of facial and neck burns. Geographical barriers to timely specialist care appear to be a major contributing factor, highlighting an urgent need for targeted interventions to improve equity in burn care.