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Association between neighbourhood socioeconomic features and residential fire incidence, related casualties and children: a cross-sectional population-based study in 4 Canadian provinces.

ABSTRACT: BACKGROUND:This study assessed whether socioeconomic factors affect the rates of residential fire incidence and fire-related injuries and deaths, and whether children are affected differently than the general population. METHODS:We employed a cross-sectional study design using data for British Columbia, Alberta, Manitoba and Ontario from the National Fire Information Database, which includes fire incidents and losses reported by provincial fire marshals across Canada between 2005 and 2015. It also contains 2011 census subdivision social domain data from Statistics Canada based on fire location. Multivariable negative binomial regressions tested the significance of relations between census subdivision socioeconomic factors (average household size, educational attainment, median income and unemployment rate) and the rates of residential fires and casualties per person-year, and casualties per fire incident. RESULTS:Census subdivisions with higher educational attainment and unemployment rates had higher rates of residential fires (incidence rate ratio [IRR] 1.07, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.05-1.10, and IRR 1.24, 95% CI 1.18-1.31, respectively) and of residential fire casualties per person-year (IRR 1.09, 95% CI 1.05-1.13, and IRR 1.29, 95% CI 1.20-1.40, respectively). Census subdivisions with smaller average households had higher rates of residential fire casualties per person-year (IRR 0.43, 95% CI 0.22-0.83) and per fire incident (IRR 0.75, 95% CI 0.58-0.97), and the association was even stronger for children (IRR 0.17, 95% CI 0.08-0.36, and IRR 0.41, 95% CI 0.20-0.86, respectively). INTERPRETATION:The results suggest that efforts to prevent residential fires should be prioritized in neighbourhoods with higher educational attainment and unemployment, whereas house fire safety programs should be intensified in neighbourhoods with smaller households to prevent fire casualties, especially among children, once a fire does occur.

SUBMITTER: Beaulieu E

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6726466 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Jul-Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Association between neighbourhood socioeconomic features and residential fire incidence, related casualties and children: a cross-sectional population-based study in 4 Canadian provinces.

Beaulieu Emilie E Smith Jennifer J Zheng Alex A Pike Ian I

CMAJ open 20190701 3

<h4>Background</h4>This study assessed whether socioeconomic factors affect the rates of residential fire incidence and fire-related injuries and deaths, and whether children are affected differently than the general population.<h4>Methods</h4>We employed a cross-sectional study design using data for British Columbia, Alberta, Manitoba and Ontario from the National Fire Information Database, which includes fire incidents and losses reported by provincial fire marshals across Canada between 2005 ...[more]

PMID: 31484651

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Project description:BACKGROUND:Published Canadian epidemiologic data on hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection include single-centre studies or are focused on Indigenous populations. We performed a study to characterize the demographic and clinical features, liver disease status and treatment of people with chronic hepatitis B in Canada. METHODS:In this descriptive, opportunistic, cross-sectional study, available data for people known to be monoinfected with HBV were collected by the Canadian HBV Network from existing clinical databases, with support from the National Microbiology Laboratory, Public Health Agency of Canada. Data were collected in all provinces with the exception of New Brunswick and Newfoundland and Labrador. We analyzed the data using parametric and nonparametric statistical methods, with a significance level of p < 0.05. RESULTS:In the 9380 unique patient records reviewed, the median age was 48 years, and 5193 patients (55.4%) were male. Ethnicity information was available for 7858 patients, of whom 5803 (73.8%) were Asian, 916 (11.6%) were black and 914 (11.6%) were white. Most of those tested (5556/6796 [81.8%]) were negative for HBV e-antigen, and most of those with fibrosis data (3481/4260 [81.7%]) had minimal liver fibrosis, with more advanced fibrosis noted in older people (> 40 yr). Of the 980 patients with genotype data, 521 (53.2%) had genotype B or C infection. Most of the 9241 patients with known confirmed treatment status received tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (1655 [17.9%]), lamivudine (1434 [15.5%]) or entecavir (548 [5.9%]). INTERPRETATION:Based on available data, Canadian patients with chronic hepatitis B are predominantly Asian and negative for HBV e-antigen, and have genotype B or C infection. Interprovincial variations were noted in antiviral treatment regimen. This multicentre nationwide study provides data regarding patients with chronic hepatitis B and may inform future studies on the epidemiologic features of HBV infection in Canada.

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Dataset Information

Association between neighbourhood socioeconomic features and residential fire incidence, related casualties and children: a cross-sectional population-based study in 4 Canadian provinces.

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Association between neighbourhood socioeconomic features and residential fire incidence, related casualties and children: a cross-sectional population-based study in 4 Canadian provinces.

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