TY  - JOUR
PY  - 2014//
TI  - An investigation into the role of alcohol in self-harm in rural Sri Lanka: a protocol for a multimethod, qualitative study
JO  - BMJ open
A1  - Sørensen, Jane Brandt
A1  - Rheinländer, Thilde
A1  - Sørensen, Birgitte Refslund
A1  - Pearson, Melissa
A1  - Agampodi, Thilini
A1  - Siribaddana, Sisira
A1  - Konradsen, Flemming
SP  - e005860
EP  - e005860
VL  - 4
IS  - 10
N2  - INTRODUCTION: Sri Lanka has one of the highest suicide and self-harm rates in the world and although alcohol has been found to be a risk factor for self-harm in Sri Lanka, we know little about the connection between the two. This paper comprises a protocol for a qualitative study investigating alcohol's role in self-harm in rural Sri Lanka at three levels: the individual, community and policy level. The analysis will bring new understanding of the link between alcohol and self-harm in Sri Lanka, drawing on structural, cultural and social concepts. It will equip researchers, health systems and policy makers with vital information for developing strategies to address alcohol-related problems as they relate to self-harm. <br><br>METHODS AND ANALYSIS: To capture the complexity of the link between alcohol and self-harm in the Anuradhapura district in the North Central Province in Sri Lanka, qualitative methods will be utilised. Specifically, the data will consist of serial narrative life-story interviews with up to 20 individuals who have non-fatally self-harmed and where alcohol directly or indirectly was involved in the incidence as well as with their significant others; observations in communities and families; six focus group discussions with community members; and key-informant interviews with 15-25 stakeholders who have a stake in alcohol distribution, marketing, policies, prevention and treatment as they relate to self-harm. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: The study has received ethical approval from the Ethical Review Committee of the Faculty of Medicine and Allied Sciences, Rajarata University of Sri Lanka. A sensitive data collection technique will be used and ethical issues will be considered throughout the study. <br><br>RESULTS: The results will be disseminated in scientific peer-reviewed articles in collaboration with Sri Lankan and other international research partners.<p />  <p>Language: en</p>
LA  - en
SN  - 2044-6055
UR  - http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2014-005860
ID  - ref1
ER  -