Self-Immolation in South Asia: Epidemiology, Motives, and Sociocultural Contexts

Self-immolation is a neglected public health and social problem in South Asia. This review focuses on epidemiological patterns, sociodemographic characteristics, motives, and psychosocial correlates associated with self-immolation in South Asian countries. A narrative review was conducted using PubMed, Scopus, Google Scholar, BanglaJOL, and Google. A search for original peer-reviewed studies, published in English between 1990 and 2024, on self-immolation in eight South Asian countries, yielded a total of 11 studies. Six studies were from India; no study from Bangladesh, Bhutan, Maldives, and Nepal was found. The studies' sample sizes varied considerably (single case report to 260 participants). Self-immolation was mostly likely among females between age 16 and 30 years. Oppression, abuse, and physical violence by family members were the most commonly motives of female self-immolators. Kerosene and open flames were the most frequently used means. Fatality rates ranged from 70% to 100%. Studies are warranted to explore the psychological, cultural, and human rights-violations factors contributing to female self-immolation and to identify female-centered and culture- and human-rights-grounded preventive strategies.