title: Why self-immolation? A qualitative exploration of the motives for attempting suicide by self-immolation.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Suicide by self-immolation is one of the great health concerns in developing countries such as Iran. Exploration of motives for attempting suicide by self-immolation in different point of view of people with experience and information on can be considered as a crucial aspect in self-immolation prevention. The study aimed to explore motives for suicide by self-immolation in Kermanshah, Iran.
  
  
  METHODS
  A qualitative approach using semi-structure interview was employed to explore motives for attempting suicide by self-immolation in Kermanshah, Iran (2012). 15 participants including 9 self-immolated patients, a patient's husband, and 5 members of medical staff of these patients were interviewed. The interviews were taped and transcribed. A content analysis using constant comparison was performed for transcribed interviews.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Five main categories were emerged that explore motives for suicide by self-immolation including mental health problems, family problems, cultural context, self-immolation as a threat, and the distinct characteristics of the method. All categories had their specific subcategories which had been integrated based on distinct properties in a given category. More than one motive might be addressed by study participants, which listed in the appropriate categories.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  There are several reasons for suicide by self-immolation that should be considered in prevention programs. There may be an interactional pattern among the motives. Further study to explore process of the interactional pattern is recommended.
authors.affiliation: Department of Occupational therapy, University of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation Science (USWR), Tehran, Iran. Electronic address: la_rezaie@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Leeba
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Rezaie
authors.affiliation: Department of Occupational therapy, University of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation Science (USWR), Tehran, Iran. Electronic address: alihosse@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Seyed Ali
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Hosseini
authors.affiliation: Department of Occupational therapy, University of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation Science (USWR), Tehran, Iran. Electronic address: mrassafiani@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Mehdi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rassafiani
authors.affiliation: Kermanshah Health Research Center (KHRC), School of Population Health, Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences (KUMS), Kermanshah, Iran. Electronic address: farid_n32@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Farid
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Najafi
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Farabi Hospital, Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences (KUMS), Kermanshah, Iran. Electronic address: jshakerimd@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Jalal
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Shakeri
authors.affiliation: Department of Nursing, University of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation Science (USWR), Tehran, Iran. Electronic address: hrkhankeh@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Hamid Reza
authors.initials: HR
authors.lastname: Khankeh
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D002056:Burns / Q000208:ethnology / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D005390:Fires; D006801:Humans; D007492:Iran; D008297:Male; D008503:Medical Staff; D008875:Middle Aged; D009042:Motivation; D036301:Qualitative Research; D016728:Self-Injurious Behavior / Q000208:ethnology / Q000523:psychology*; D013406:Suicide, Attempted / Q000208:ethnology / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000523:psychology*; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Content analysis; Iran; Motives; Prevention; Qualitative study; Self-immolation