Tattoo Practice Among Students in Babylon University
Abstract
BACKGROUND:Tattoo is the introduction of colored ink into the skin, and considered a form of body art for centuries.Its prevalence is rising among adolescents and young adults, mainly in western societies despitebeing linked to certain health risks.AIM OF THE STUDY:To assess the characteristics of tattoo practice among college students, and to highlight its associationwith certain characteristics of the students.METHODS:The study is a cross-sectional study conducted on college students in Babylon University fromJanuary 2019 through June 2019. Data were collected using an anonymous self-administeredquestionnaire based on Armstrong Team Tattoo Attitude Survey (ATTAS).RESULTS:The study included (1932) students with a mean age of (21.05 ± 1.69) years, majority being females(70.3%). Tattoo practice was present in (8.3%) of them, with significantly higher proportion amongmales (P<0.001). Tattoo was significantly more prevalent among students with tattooed familymembers and friends (P<0.001), odds ratio=3.09 for family members with tattoos and 5.19 for friendswith tattoo.CONCLUSION:The study demonstrated the significant role of friends and families in the practice of tattoos, withfriends having the highest role. Majority of students performed their first tattoo before college.
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