Prevalence, correlates and common methods of non-suicidal self-injury in South Asia: a systematic review
Introduction The dynamics of self-harm vary substantially around the world, yet it is severely under-researched outside of a small number of high-income ‘Western’ countries. South Asia is disproportionately impacted by suicide, yet we know less about non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) in the region.Obj...
| Main Authors: | , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMJ Publishing Group
2023-11-01
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| Series: | BMJ Open |
| Online Access: | https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/13/11/e074776.full |
| _version_ | 1797434857949757440 |
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| author | Gregory Armstrong Anish Cherian Quan Chen S M Yasir Arafat Tilahun Haregu |
| author_facet | Gregory Armstrong Anish Cherian Quan Chen S M Yasir Arafat Tilahun Haregu |
| author_sort | Gregory Armstrong |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Introduction The dynamics of self-harm vary substantially around the world, yet it is severely under-researched outside of a small number of high-income ‘Western’ countries. South Asia is disproportionately impacted by suicide, yet we know less about non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) in the region.Objective To review and summarise evidence on the prevalence, correlates and common methods of NSSI in South Asia.Methods We searched Medline, Embase and PsycINFO for the period 1 January 2000 to 31 August 2023, for peer-reviewed observational studies. A total of 11 studies from eight South Asian countries that reported prevalence and/or correlates of NSSI were included in this review. We assessed the quality of the studies using the Study Quality Assessment Tools for Observational Cohort and Cross-Sectional Studies. We used meta-regression to describe the sources of heterogeneity. Abstracted data were summarised using thematic synthesis.Results For non-clinical populations, the 12-month prevalence of NSSI ranged from 3.2% to 44.8%, and the lifetime prevalence ranged from 21% to 33%. For clinical populations, the 12-month prevalence of NSSI ranged from 5% to 16.4%, while the lifetime prevalence ranged from 2% to 27%. Male sex, unemployment, financial stress, history of suicidal behaviour and depression were associated with a higher risk of NSSI. Better access to counselling services, higher self-esteem and self-knowledge were associated with a lower risk of NSSI.Conclusion The burden of NSSI in South Asia appears to be high in both clinical and non-clinical populations. Further research, especially with general population samples, is needed to build evidence on the epidemiology, context and meaning of NSSI in South Asia to inform the design of context-specific interventions.PROSPERO registration number CRD42022342536. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T10:39:56Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-bbb9a3df1ade4acebc5a27446dd7b5b6 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2044-6055 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T10:39:56Z |
| publishDate | 2023-11-01 |
| publisher | BMJ Publishing Group |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMJ Open |
| spelling | doaj.art-bbb9a3df1ade4acebc5a27446dd7b5b62023-12-01T17:55:08ZengBMJ Publishing GroupBMJ Open2044-60552023-11-01131110.1136/bmjopen-2023-074776Prevalence, correlates and common methods of non-suicidal self-injury in South Asia: a systematic reviewGregory Armstrong0Anish Cherian1Quan Chen2S M Yasir Arafat3Tilahun Haregu4Melbourne School of Population and Global Health, University of Melbourne, Carlton, Victoria, AustraliaDepartment of Psychiatric Social Work, National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro Sciences, Bangalore, Karnataka, IndiaMelbourne School of Population and Global Health, University of Melbourne, Carlton, Victoria, AustraliaDepartment of Psychiatry, Enam Medical College and Hospital, Savar, BangladeshMelbourne School of Population and Global Health, University of Melbourne, Carlton, Victoria, AustraliaIntroduction The dynamics of self-harm vary substantially around the world, yet it is severely under-researched outside of a small number of high-income ‘Western’ countries. South Asia is disproportionately impacted by suicide, yet we know less about non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) in the region.Objective To review and summarise evidence on the prevalence, correlates and common methods of NSSI in South Asia.Methods We searched Medline, Embase and PsycINFO for the period 1 January 2000 to 31 August 2023, for peer-reviewed observational studies. A total of 11 studies from eight South Asian countries that reported prevalence and/or correlates of NSSI were included in this review. We assessed the quality of the studies using the Study Quality Assessment Tools for Observational Cohort and Cross-Sectional Studies. We used meta-regression to describe the sources of heterogeneity. Abstracted data were summarised using thematic synthesis.Results For non-clinical populations, the 12-month prevalence of NSSI ranged from 3.2% to 44.8%, and the lifetime prevalence ranged from 21% to 33%. For clinical populations, the 12-month prevalence of NSSI ranged from 5% to 16.4%, while the lifetime prevalence ranged from 2% to 27%. Male sex, unemployment, financial stress, history of suicidal behaviour and depression were associated with a higher risk of NSSI. Better access to counselling services, higher self-esteem and self-knowledge were associated with a lower risk of NSSI.Conclusion The burden of NSSI in South Asia appears to be high in both clinical and non-clinical populations. Further research, especially with general population samples, is needed to build evidence on the epidemiology, context and meaning of NSSI in South Asia to inform the design of context-specific interventions.PROSPERO registration number CRD42022342536.https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/13/11/e074776.full |
| spellingShingle | Gregory Armstrong Anish Cherian Quan Chen S M Yasir Arafat Tilahun Haregu Prevalence, correlates and common methods of non-suicidal self-injury in South Asia: a systematic review BMJ Open |
| title | Prevalence, correlates and common methods of non-suicidal self-injury in South Asia: a systematic review |
| title_full | Prevalence, correlates and common methods of non-suicidal self-injury in South Asia: a systematic review |
| title_fullStr | Prevalence, correlates and common methods of non-suicidal self-injury in South Asia: a systematic review |
| title_full_unstemmed | Prevalence, correlates and common methods of non-suicidal self-injury in South Asia: a systematic review |
| title_short | Prevalence, correlates and common methods of non-suicidal self-injury in South Asia: a systematic review |
| title_sort | prevalence correlates and common methods of non suicidal self injury in south asia a systematic review |
| url | https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/13/11/e074776.full |
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