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

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