Prevalence of tattooing and knowledge about health risk associated with it among adolescent school students in Manipur, North-eastern India: a cross-sectional study

Abstract

Background: Tattooing has emerged as common activity among adolescents. Therefore, it is important to informed adolescents about possible health hazards associated with it. The objective of the study was to determine the prevalence of tattooing and knowledge of health risks associated with it among higher secondary students and association between knowledge on risk factors with selected socio-demographic variables.Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted from September to October 2015 among 1325 students studying in class XI and XII in Thoubal district of Manipur in Northeast India. A self-administered questionnaire was used for data collection. Based on the obtained score, knowledge was divided into adequate and inadequate. Descriptive statistics like mean (SD) and percentages were used. Chi-square test was used for testing the significance and p<0.05 was considered as statistically significant.Results: Total of 1378 students participated in the study. Almost all the students (99.5%) have heard of tattoo but only 75 of them (5.5%) had ever tattooed. Majority (87%) of the students had inadequate knowledge. Ever tattooed was more among male students compared to female. There was significant association between adequate knowledge and male students, parents who had secondary and above education. Significant association was found among those who had adequate knowledge and risk of transmission of disease through tattooing.Conclusions: Prevalence of ever tattooed was 5.5%. Though majority of the participants had heard of tattoo but most of them had inadequate knowledge about health risk associated with tattooing.

Health knowledge and motives on tattooing: A community‐based cross‐sectional study in Greece

“…The variable of age in the literature indicated a greater prevalence of tattooing among young adults between 21 to 30 years of age 32 and in women of 20–29 years old than in men at the same age, while tattooing in men was found more common in older age groups, that is, 40–49 years 31 . However, up‐to‐date evidence among adolescents in Northeastern India suggests that more than half of the tattooed participants were less than 15 years old, which may be taken as an increasing trend of getting the first tattoo in younger ages 33 . According to the results of this study, the most prevailing age group of first tattooing ranged between 19 to 25 years.…”

“…31 However, up-to-date evidence among adolescents in Northeastern India suggests that more than half of the tattooed participants were less than 15 years old, which may be taken as an increasing trend of getting the first tattoo in younger ages. 33 4 and while another study demonstrates a prevalence, ranging from 12% to 24% to the European and American territory. 5 The later, though, may be understood better in a span of increasing prevalence of tattooing over the years passed since.…”