SOCIO-DEMOGRAPHIC STUDY OF SELF-IMMOLATION IN KABUL

Abstract

 Self-immolation is a dangerous method of committing suicide which is prevalent in individuals who attempt to escape a stressful situation and is considered a significant social and medical disorder in both the economically developed and developing countries. Тo find out demographic characteristics (age, sex, marital state, level of education and occupation), and complication of Self-immolation cases in 2012 - 2014 in Kabul Afghanistan. Тhe research was designed as a descriptive-cross sectional study. The data collection were done in a census manner. Target population were all self-immolation cases that were referred to burn surgery ward of Isteqlal Hospital, the only hospital in Kabul which has burn surgery ward which were referred during 2012-2014. Data which include demographic characteristics and complication of burning obtained from hospital medical record, and data were analyzed in SPSS verion 21. The results of the study indicate that the incidence of self-immolation in Kabul is rising and the highest incidence has been observed in young and adolescents, most of it occurred between the ages of 15-30 and mostly among married house wife women who had a low level of primary education. The number of fatalities was much higher than the number of improved cases.