Determinants of Prehospital Management of Superficial Burns in Pediatric Patients at Health Facilities in Mazabuka District: A Cross-Sectional Study

Background Burn injuries in children are common in low-resource settings, yet little is known about how they are managed before reaching health facilities in Zambia. Early care at home plays a key role in recovery, but harmful practices are still widely used. We examined how caregivers manage superficial burns in children and identified factors linked to good prehospital care in Mazabuka District. Methods We conducted a cross-sectional study between September and December 2025 among 337 caregivers of children aged 0–15 years presenting with superficial burns. The study was conducted at three health facilities in Mazabuka District. Data were collected using structured interviews and clinical records. Prehospital burn care was classified as good or poor based on the recommended first-aid practices. Associations were assessed using Firth penalised logistic regression, and results are reported as adjusted odds ratios (AORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Results Only 13.1% (44/337) of caregivers provided good prehospital burn care. Urban residence was associated with lower odds of good management (AOR 0.22; 95% CI: 0.05–0.92; p=0.038). Older caregiver age reduced the odds of good care (AOR 0.92; 95% CI: 0.86–0.98; p=0.011), while increasing child age improved it (AOR 1.25; 95% CI: 1.10–1.43; p<0.001). Longer time to reach a facility was also associated with poorer care (AOR 0.96; 95% CI 0.94–0.98; p<0.001). Conclusion Good prehospital burn care was uncommon. It was associated with time to the health facility, caregiver age, child age, and urban versus rural residence, rather than with proximity to a facility alone. Programmes should promote cooling with running water, avoidance of harmful home applications, and prompt care-seeking. Messages in routine child health services may reach caregivers of young children; additional approaches are needed for older caregivers and urban communities.