Women victims of self-inflicted burns in Tabriz, Iran

From 20 March 1998 through 20 March 2002, a total of 412 cases of self-burning were admitted to the burn center of East Azarbaijan, located in the city of Tabriz, Iran. The average age was 25.5 years; 99% of self-burning cases were female. A total of 76.5% of those patients were in the 15–19 and 20–29 year age groups. Most cases were married, housekeepers and illiterate and poor. Seventy-five percent of the patients had impulsive suicidal intention. The major motive was marital conflict. The mortality rate was 79.6%. The mean burned surface area was 65.5%. Kerosene was used by 77% of the patients as a burning agent.