Acid Attacks based on Victim's Experiences: Context, Conditions and Outcomes

This paper, as a qualitative study, investigates the nature and dimensions of acid attacks based on victim’s experiences. It used grounded theory method according to Straus and Corbin approach. It was initiated by purposeful sampling and continued by applying theoretical sampling. 12 semi-structured interviews with 12 victims leaded to data collection. Interviews were analyzed according to open coding, axial coding and selective coding method.
The analysis was conducted based on the following concepts extracted experienced by victims as considerable beauty, the traditional context, substance abuse and mental disorders caused by field conditions; and consequences compromised helplessness and retardation, readjustment and social deprivation categories. Also, burns and loss of beauty, sex and education as mediator conditions in this process were extracted.
The study showed that acid attack means physical and psychic injuries for victims. Due to being multi-dimensional (illness, disability and victimization), it requires wide range of strategies at different levels. Social deprivation is the wide-spread consequence of acid attack for all victims despite different successful and unsuccessful ways they use to confront those injuries.