Relationship between childhood sexual abuse and suicidal behaviour in South Asian countries: A scoping review

Abstract

Background: Sexual abuse is a global issue and happens in every culture and country. It is a risk factor for developing several mental disorders and suicide. While there are many studies on the relationship between childhood sexual abuse (CSA) and suicide, there are no reviews on this association from South Asia. Aims: A scoping review to explore the association between CSA and suicidal behaviour in South Asian countries. Method: A literature search was conducted with Databases PubMed/Medline, Google Scholar, and Scopus from January 1, 2001 to December 31, 2020 for articles related to child sexual abuse and suicidal behaviour. Studies from Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, the Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka were included in the search. Results: Among 356 articles found, 45 publications were further evaluated based on exclusion and inclusion criteria, and 12 papers that reported quantitative outcomes of the association between CSA and suicidal experiences were included in the review. There were no eligible studies from Afghanistan, Pakistan, Nepal, and the Maldives. Due to the limited number of publications and the heterogeneity of the studies, a meta-analysis was not conducted. Most studies indicated that CSA is a risk factor for suicidal behaviour or suicide later in life. Further, cultural barriers prevent the disclosure of CSA in Asian communities. Conclusions: There is an association between CSA and suicidal behaviour in South Asian countries. Future studies should target socio-cultural aspects to develop preventive programs for CSA and later suicide.

Keywords

• Child sexual abuse
• Suicide behaviour
• South Asia
• Mental health
• India