624 30 years trends of intentional injuries among women in Afghanistan, Pakistan, and India: findings from Global Burden of Disease (GBD) data

<h3>Background</h3> Injuries remain a leading cause of mortality and morbidity globally. Despite males being more exposed to injuries, intentional injuries including suicide and interpersonal violence among females are usually underreported. <h3>Objective</h3> To determine the prevalence and mortality rates of self-harm and interpersonal violence among females aged 18 to 45 years in Afghanistan, Pakistan, and India, using data from the Global Burden of Disease (1990 to 2019). <h3>Methods</h3> An ecological study design was used to determine injury trends among females from the Global Burden of Disease data. In Global Burden of Disease (GBD) self-harm and interpersonal violence comes under the umbrella of intentional injuries. We estimated deaths and prevalence rate for each type using the R-programming software (R software Corp LP, USA, version 4.3.2). Percentage change (%Δ) over 30 years was calculated at the overall level, for individual countries, genders, age groups, and causes, with 1990 as the benchmark. Additionally, Poisson regression analysis was performed to evaluate the 30-year trends in the prevalence and deaths of different causes of violence. The incidence rate ratio (IRR), along with a 95% confidence interval, was reported as an indicator of per-year percentage change. <h3>Result</h3> The collective data reveals a notable rise in the death rates attributed to self-harm and interpersonal violence in Afghanistan, Pakistan, and India from 1990 to 2019, with a relatively similar prevalence rate across these regions. Specifically, Afghanistan has witnessed a significant increase in the number of deaths, marking a substantial 276.9% change related to self-harm and interpersonal violence since 1990. Notably, the year 2018 recorded the highest number of deaths in Afghanistan, reaching 102,765 due to these causes. In contrast, India has experienced a decline in deaths related to self-harm and interpersonal violence during the same period. Pakistan, though exhibiting a slight decrease, has seen a lower percentage change (3%) compared to Afghanistan. <h3>Conclusion</h3> Efforts are required in all three countries particularly Afghanistan to stabilize the situation to lessen the burden of interpersonal violence and self-harm, as indicated by the observed prevalence rates. Governments should prioritize the implementation of preventive strategies and allocate resources effectively to address this issue.