Abstract
Self-immolation, affected by various factors, is the most common way of committing suicide among Iranian women especially in the western areas of Iran. The present research addresses the phenomenon of self-immolation among women in the two towns of Salas babajani and Sarpol Zahab located in the Kermanshah province. We also shed light on the sociolinguistic features (such as cultural norms, cultural expectations, education, religion, etc.) of self-immolation attempt victims. The participants in the research were twenty women who were self-immolation survivors in urban and rural parts of the research area. Sampling is a purposive sampling and data collection continued until saturation point was reached. Data was collected through deep and semi-structured interviews. Results indicate that most respondents belonged to the rural population (75%), were Hagh followers (50%), and were housewives (70%). Moreover, most participants had elementary level education (50%), poor economic conditions (50%), and were descendants of illiterate parents (70%). The mean age of those who attempted self-immolation was 25 years old. In addition, the average age difference with their husband was 14 years. In terms of marital status, 30% were married, 35% were single, and 35% were divorced. Most of the married and divorced women (46.15%), had no children, and had married without full consent. 80% of participants stated that they had a history of domestic violence, and 70% of respondents stated that they had a history of self-immolation in their relatives.
Highlights
Suicide, which results in death, is the act of deliberately hurting oneself [1]
This study demonstrates that self-immolation is among the most important social, cultural and psychological problems in the Iranian society and is a complex phenomenon that has many different causes
The results revealed two influential factors- namely marriage and women’s education- have a direct impact, and an indirect impact on self-immolation
Summary
Suicide, which results in death, is the act of deliberately hurting oneself [1]. “the attempt to commit suicide” is a phrase which is used for all nonfatal actions in which the person damages themselves skillfully [2]. Suicide and suicide attempt could be viewed as complex social and psychological phenomena which are affected by personal and environmental factors [3]. Methods of committing suicide in different countries differ based on cultures, symbols, imitation and religion [4]. One of the painful suicide attempts is self-immolation which is more prevalent in Eastern societies as compared to the Western societies [5]. Based on the latest data from death registration system in Iran, 11 people die by suicide daily, from which 4 end their lives through self-immolation [6]. Emergency rooms and burn hospitals are faced with self-immolated women who in facing life issues and problems find no other solution except destroying themselves in the most heartbreaking way [7]
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