“It was like nobody cared about what I said?” Iranian women committed self-immolation: a qualitative study

Abstract

Background Suicide-attempts have increased across the world and have become higher among females. There has been a high prevalence of self-immolation in Iran, mostly young married women admitted to the burn centers. This study aimed to explore the factors and experiences of self-immolation in Iranian married women to develop prevention strategies to prevent the personal, social, and economic impacts of suicide and suicide attempts. Methods A qualitative descriptive approach using open-ended, in-depth, face-to-face interviews was conducted in a purposive sample of 16 married Iranian women aged 16–40 years in the burn centers in Urmia city, a place in northwest Iran. Conventional content analysis was used to analyze the data. Results Three themes emerged from the data, including (1) antecedents of self-immolation, (2) suicidal ideation method, and (3) pathway to recovery. Each of these themes is supported by sub-themes. Conclusions The study highlights the demand for health professionals to support self-immolation survivors to continue their normal lives. According to survivors’ needs, a comprehensive supportive program is recommended to support their pathways to recovery in all its complexities. Health professionals should also not forget that the survivors’ family also will need help to overcome this trauma. A family counseling program may also be provided.

Protective factors against suicide attempt in Iranian Kurdish women: a qualitative content analysis

“…The cultural theory and model of suicide also believes that many cultural factors are involved as risk factors in suicidal behaviors [ 12 ]. In the case of Iran, factors such as marital discord, love and strong emotional tendencies, educational failures, traditional Iranian patriarchal culture, economic constraints, and work problems are introduced as predisposing factors of suicidal behaviors [ 13 – 15 ].…”

Challenges and reactions of families of women survived self-immolation: A qualitative study in western Iran.

“…There were three different types. Aghakhani et al (2021) found that family support for women saved from self-immolation in Iran can improve their conditions and accelerate the process of their return to normal life (Aghakhani et al, 2021). One of the most important and perhaps the most common ways of dealing with women victims of self-immolation was their rejection.…”

“…Research conducted among Iraqi Kurdish women found that the lack of family support and the negative reaction of others were reported as one of the most important challenges for women after committing self-immolation (Mirlashari et al, 2017). The occurrence of suicide in the family can also increase the likelihood of suicide in other family members (Rodante et al, 2016), getting stigmatized (Buus et al, 2014; Jordan, 2001), guilt (Asare-Doku et al, 2017; Lindqvist et al, 2008), social isolation, and a lack of social support (Aghakhani et al, 2021; Rezaeinasab & Jamili Kohneh Shahri, 2021).…”

Self-inflicted burns in Brazil: systematic review and meta-analysis

“…Attempted suicide by means of burns is an uncommon type of suicidal behavior in Western nations, such as the United States and western European countries, where it totals approximately 1% of all forms of suicide 2 , 14 . Developing countries with a population-wide poor level of education exhibit higher frequencies of self-injurious behavior 1 , 32 , 35 . Low- and middle-income countries register 80% of all global suicide, also recording a higher prevalence of self-immolation, which places Brazil at greater risk 1 , 11 , 14 , 32 .…”

“…The psychological state of mind of the victims is another attribute that needs to be carefully explored. Certainly, self-extermination by direct flames is one of the most violent and dramatic forms of suicidal behavior, which may emphasize the extreme emotional disturbance and psychological suffering of victims 2 , 10 , 17 , 33 - 35 . Paradoxically, the psychological factor seems to be both associated with worse outcomes and, on the other hand, correlated with higher chances of survival since many of these occurrences may lack premeditation or actual intention of death, which, in many cases, result in a risk of death similar to accidental burns 10 .…”