Introduction: Self-burning is a cruel method of suicide and prevention is the most effective way to decrease its morbidity and mortality.

Material and Methods: This investigation is a descriptive prospective study performed at Shahid Motahari Burn Center, Tehran, Iran from December 2001 to December 2002. Inclusion criteria included being female, married, having no history of medical and mental disorders and admission of self-burning. Data were collected by a questionnaire and interviews and were analyzed with descriptive statistics methods and chi-square test.            

Results: A total of 35 cases entered our study. The mean age of patients was 24.573.94 years and 48.6% of cases were in the 21-25 year age group, 80% had primary school education, 97.1% were housekeeper and 68.8% had low economical status. There were statistically significant differences in all of these variables. In 42.9% self-burning had happened at 12-18 hour period and in 45.7% it had occurred at yard. Kerosene had been used by 91.4% of the women as the burning agent 94.3% of the women had experienced husband’s violence (verbal and physical), 60% of the women stated that their husbands were guilty in their action and 91.4% of the women didn’t know any supportive sources in the society. The mortality rate was 100%.

Conclusion: This research showed that family violence and marital problems are the most important causes of self-burning in the married women. Because of close relationship to families, community health nurses can prevent self-burning in married women by detecting and eliminating these risk factors.

Background & Aim: Suicide is an intentional death that occurs three time in women to men. Nurses can influence in presentation of educational program and consultation in school, job environment and home as well as detection of person who suspected to suicide. This study has conducted to determine the causes of suicide in married women.

Methods & Materials: This investigation is a descriptive study that has been made among women who admitted to Loghmanoddole-Adham poisoning emergency center in Tehran, Iran (the only poisoning emergency center in Tehran) during one year (from December 2001 to December 2002). Inclusion criteria were female, married, without history of medical, mental disorders and confession to suicide. Data were collected by a questionnaire and interview and were analyzed with descriptive statistics and a chi-square test.

Results: According to the result, there was statistically significant differences between age groups, living areas, educational levels, jobs and financially states. 37.4% of women had forced marry 50.5% had feared of their husband 67.7% had experienced husband’s violence 74.7% didn’t know any supportive sources in the society. 82.8% of women used of medications (tablets) for suicide.

Conclusion: This research showed that family violence and marital conflict are the most important etiology of suicide in the women. Nurses can decrease of acting to suicide in married women with detection of family violence, increasing of clients&apos self-esteem, referring and follow up.