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.