Background: Worldwide suicide is being acknowledged as an important global public health issue. Globally,
suicide is the third leading cause of death among 15-44 year old women, and, according to the World Health
Organization in 2014, for adolescent girl’s age 15 to 19, the first leading cause of death. In Nepal, suicide is the
single leading cause of death among women of reproductive age.
Purpose: The aim of the study is to analyze differences and similarities in the variation in suicidal trends,
etiology and associated contributing factors of suicide between women of reproductive age in Nepal and other
developed (i.e., Australia, Denmark, Norway and USA), developing (i.e., Bangladesh, India, and Pakistan) and
recently developed countries (i.e., China and South Korea).
Method: A narrative review study design was employed including quantitative and qualitative data on the
situation of suicide among women of reproductive age of relevance to both global and Nepalese contexts.
Key findings: Globally, the risk of suicide among the women of reproductive age increases with age, in contrast
to Nepal where younger women of reproductive age are at higher risk than the older women of reproductive
age. Worldwide the use of less lethal and violent methods for attempting suicide by women is commonly
observed, possibly with a motive of gaining attention in times of psychosocial crisis rather than performing a
complete suicide. While mental illness, substance abuse, physical illness, and unemployment play a major role
as contributing factors of suicide in developed countries, key socio-cultural factors such as gender inequality,
marriage pressures, domestic violence, modernization/urbanization and economic factors were found to be
associated with suicide among women of reproductive age in Nepal, demonstrating the variation in driving
forces of suicide among women of reproductive age in different settings. Among developing countries, recently
developed countries and Nepal, similarities in contributing factors associated with socio-cultural and economic
components such as gender inequality, marriage, domestic violence, modernization/urbanization, cultural
transitions and economic factors can be observed, further demonstrating a difference in contributing factors of
suicide from the developed countries.
Conclusion: Although suicide among women of reproductive age is a growing public health problem
worldwide, a difference in age for the increased risk of suicide can be clearly observed between Nepalese and
Global suicide trends, highlighting a need for further in-depth analysis of the situation. Also, similarities and
differences regarding contributing factors of suicide can be observed in developed, developing and recently
developed countries exhibiting possible influence of globalization, traditional culture and transitions among
them over time.