International Journal of Human and Health Sciences Vol. 06 No. 01 January’22 24 Original article: Tattoo and Body Piercings among Young Adults in Nigeria Ebeye Oladunni Abimbola1,Osahon Roli Itohan2, Ehebha Santos Ehizokhale2,Ojumah Nancy Chuwuma1, Okoro Ogheneyebrorue Godswill1, Akpoyibo Emmanuel Enatewe1 Abstract: Objective: Both tattoo and body piercing have a long history and are well known in various cultures in African, American, Asia, and Oceania. Although the appearance of the two varies geographically, they always possess a specific meaning for a particular culture. This study examined awareness, attitude, and knowledge of students towards tattooing and body piercing in Delta State University, Abraka. Nigeria. Material and Methods: Data was collected through the use of well-structured questionnaires. The study made use of 400 young adults randomly selected from six faculties in Delta State University, Abraka. Result and Discussion: Findings revealed that the majority of students (85%) are aware of tattoo and body piercing and 31.3% gave fashion as the main reason why they engage in body modifications. It was however observed that 40% of the  subjects under survey regard their colleagues involved in tattooing and body piercing as irresponsible and reckless. Conclusion: The study gave a growing convergence on both gender toward tattooing and a sharp difference in the involvement of both gender towards  body piercing. Majority of these young adult are also aware of the health risks associated with body modifications and may not consider them in future.  Keywords: Tattoo, Body piercing, Students, Religion, Perception Correspondence to: Okoro Ogheneyebrorue Godswill, Department of Human Anatomy and Cell Biology, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, Delta State University, Abraka, Nigeria. Email: thomasgodswill23@gmail.com 1. Department of Human Anatomy and Cell Biology, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, Delta State University, Abraka 2. Department of Anatomy, College of Medicine, Edo University Iyamho; P.M.B 04 Iyamho, Edo State, Nigeria International Journal of Human and Health Sciences Vol. 06 No. 01 January’22 Page : 24-29 DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.31344/ijhhs.v6i1.372 Introduction A tattoo is a form of body beautification where  indelible ink, dyes, and pigments are used to make an inscription on dermis that remains underneath the epidermis layer of the skin 1 for temporary or permanent reasons. A tattoo is temporary when the immune system of the participant can dissolve the pigments found in the tattoo ink or the use of laser treatment that requires identification of a colour  in the pigment and breakdown of the colour for macrophages to act on it2. The various pigments or colourants mixed with carriers to produce tattoo inks are sometimes made from heavy metals and minerals such as carbon, iron oxide, Cinnabar. The functions of the carriers are for dissolving and movement of the pigment from the point of needle insertion to the various mapped out surfaces of the skin2. It is arguably claimed that tattooing has existed since 12,000 years BC with its purpose varying from culture to culture and its place on the timeline. Tattoos are drawn to express one’s state of independence, for religious or cultural reasons, or to adorn one’s body. The importance of tattoos in ritual and tradition is seen in Borneo women whose tattooed forearm symbolizes a particular craft they are skilled on. 25 International Journal of Human and Health Sciences Vol. 06 No. 01 January’22 Body piercing is an act of body modification done  through penetration or opening of body parts such as eyebrows, lips, tongues, nose, nipples, or genitals to insert ornaments3. Both tattoo and body piercing have a long history and are well known in various cultures in African, American, Asia, and Oceania4. Although the appearance of the two varied geographically, they always possess a very specific meaning for a particular culture. Whereas  piercings are often used in initiation rites to assign their bearer to a certain social or age group 5, tattoos are utilized to signal religious affiliations,  strength, or social status6,7.  Body  modifications  are potentially an important aspect of human identification8, and they have significantly aided  forensic anthropological cases in recent years9. Starkie articulates that the increasing use of body modifications  encourages  those  undertaking  the  practices for their “extreme” nature to seek new  methods of modifying their bodies8. Youths in higher institutions of learning, music artists, movie actor/actress, beauty experts, sportsmen/women, fashion models are now engaging in tattooing and body piercing 10,11. Although there is growing popularity of tattooing and body piercing among youths in Nigeria, yet, their excessive application and practice may have serious social and health body implications for body modifiers. Skin damage and rashes are common  skin problems, while emotional detachments from the old image or collapsed relationships are  usually  difficult  to  remove12. According to Wohlrab, Stahl, and Kappeler 13, tattoos can cause skin problems such as granulomas (red bumps caused by inflammation) and keloid scars. It can  also provoke allergic reactions like skin itches and break out13. Also, viral infectious diseases, such as hepatitis A, hepatitis B, and HIV/AIDs can also be contracted via discharged body fluids and needles  used  during  modification  exercise. Also,  tattoos  and body piercing in some situations can limit the opportunity, as well as accentuate the tendency to discriminate against their wearers. This study therefore, seeks to examine the awareness and attitude of young adults towards tattooing and body piercing. Materials and Methods A total of 400 students’aged 16-30 at various faculties of Delta State University, Abraka. Nigeria were administered questionnaires.Ethical approval was obtained from the research and ethics committee of Human Anatomy and Cell Biology Department of Delta State University, Abraka. Students were randomly selected from six faculties and were assessed using a cross-sectional survey design. Questionnaires that were not accurately filled were excluded. Respondents were informed of the purpose of study and their consent was sort and obtained. Questionnaires were thereafter distributed to respondent whose privacy were kept confidential  by not including any of their bio data. Respondents filled  the  questionnaire  after  carefully  going  through the questions with the right understanding of the questions and the questionnaires were retrieved. The data obtained were processed and analyzed through the use of Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS), version 25. Results are presented in simple percentages Results From table 1: It was observed that the majority of the respondent(85.0%) are aware of tattoo and body piercing, 78%of respondent indicated males are mostly involved in tattooing as compared to female,8% had no idea of tattooing. However, fewer males were indicated to be involved in body piercing as compared to females (80.5%). Table  2  &  3,  revealed  that  the  majority  of  the  respondents do not have any form of body modifications,  about  13.5%  had  a  tattoo  and  17.5% had their body pierced. Also,59.0% of the respondents do not have a reason for their body modifications neither does it have any significance. Table 4, showed that 31.1% of respondent engage in tattoo and body piercing purely for fashion, 14.0%claimed that students who engage in these two forms of body modifications believe that they  serve  as  a  source  of  strength  and  identification,  24.3% indicated that tattoo and body piercing enhance sexual attraction, 25.8% attributed that students involvement in tattoo and body piercing is as a result of peer pressure. 4.8% stated other reasons why students engage in piercing and tattooing. As  shown  in  Table  5  &  6,  the  majority  of  the  respondents consider students who wear tattoo and engage in body piercing as irresponsible and reckless, while 23.3% are indifferent, 19.8%  International Journal of Human and Health Sciences Vol. 06 No. 01 January’22 26 believe they are bad and dangerous however, 13.0% sees them as fashionable and 4.0% consider them being decent. About 44.5% see students without tattoo and body piercing as decent and responsible however 18.5% see them as not being fashionable and others see them as inferior. Table 7 revealed 62.5%of respondents are aware of health risks associated with tattooing and body piercing while others are not. 61.8%of the respondents are in agreement that tattooing and body piercing can transmit infectious disease, while 9.8% of disagreed with 28.3% having no idea. Table 8 showed that of the 400 respondents, 19.5% would consider tattooing in the future while majority (65.8%) would not. 68.0% of the respondents would not consider body piercing in the future, 20.3% and 11.8%would consider piercing and have no idea respectively. Table 9 showed that of the400 respondents, 18.0% agreed that tattoo and body piercing is accepted in Christianity, 15.8%of the respondents agreed that tattoo and body piercing is accepted in Islam, however majority believed it is against their religion. Table 1: Respondents knowledge on tattoo and body piercing Yes % No % No idea % 1 Are you aware of tattoo and body piercing? 340 85.0 38 9.5 2.2 5.5 2 Are Males mostly involved in tattoo 313 78.3 56 14.0 31 7.8 3 Are Females mostly involved in tattoo 220 55.0 138 34.5 42 10.5 4 Are Males mostly involved in body piercing 148 37.0 202 50.5 50 12.5 5 Are Females mostly involved in body piercing 322 80.5 49 12.3 29 7.2 Table 2: Do you have any body modification? Frequency Percentage (%) P-value TATTOO PIERCING NONE TOTAL 54 70 276 400 13.5 17.5 69.0 100 0.000 Table 3: Respondents reason and significance of body modification Yes % No % No idea % 1 Is there a reason for your body modification?  111 27.8 236 59.0 53 13.3 2 Does it signify something? 92 23.0 234 58.5 74 18.5 Table 4: Respondents idea on why students engage in tattoo and body piercing Frequency Percentage (%) P-value Fashion Sexual Attraction Strength and Identification  Peer Pressure Others Total 125 97 56 103 19 400 31.3 24.3 14.0 25.8 4.8 100 0.000 Table 5: How respondents perceive student with tattoo and body piercing Frequency P e r c e n t a g e (%) P-value Bad and Dangerous Indifferent   Irresponsible Fashionable l Decent 79 93 160 52 1600 19.8 23.3 40.0 13.0 4.0 0.000 Table 6: How respondents perceive students without tattoo and body piercing Frequency Percentage (%) P-value Responsible Decent Inferior Not fashionable 113 178 35 74 28.2 44.5 8.8 18.5 0.000 Table 7: Respondent’s knowledge of health risk associated with tattoo and body piercing Yes % No % N o idea % P-value 1 Do you know about the health risk involved in tattooing and body piercing 250 62.5 91 22.8 59 14.8 2 Is it risky undergoing tattooing and body piercing 225 56.3 83 20.8 92 23.0 0.000 27 International Journal of Human and Health Sciences Vol. 06 No. 01 January’22 Yes % No % N o idea % P-value 3 Can tattooing and body piercing transmit infectious disease 247 61.8 39 9.8 114 28.5 4 Are the place or instruments used for body modification  always safe 114 28.5 137 34.3 149 37.3 Table 8: Future consideration of tattoo and body piercing Yes % No % N o idea % P-value 1 Would you consider tattoo in the future 78 19.5 263 65.8 59 14.8 0.000 2 Would you consider piercing in the future 81 20.3 272 68.0 47 11.8 Table 9: Religious view on tattooing and body piercing Yes % No % No idea % P-value 1 Is tattoo and body piercing accepted in Christianity 72 18.0 231 57.8 97 24.3 0.000 2 Is tattoo and body piercing accepted in Islam 63 15.8 123 30.8 214 53.5 Fig 1. Shows gender distribution of respondents Fig 2.Shows Age Distribution of Respondents Fig 3.Shows religion of respondents The figure above showed that about 87% of the  respondents were Christians. Fig 4. Shows faculty of respondents As shown in the figure above, students of Basic  Medical Sciences were30%, followed by those of Faculty of Social Sciences and Faculty of Science 17.5% respectively, Faculty of Arts, 13.8%, Faculty of Education, 12.5%, and Faculty of Pharmacy, 8.8%. The study recorded an equal number of persons in gender (male or female) who gave a response about their knowledge of tattoo and body piercing. Fig 1.revealed that the total number of males (n = 200, 50%) was equal to the total number of females (n = 200, 50%). This shows that the concepts of discussion are known to the populace irrespective of how it is done and who is involved in the process. International Journal of Human and Health Sciences Vol. 06 No. 01 January’22 28 Fig 2 showed that the majority of the respondents were within the age group 21-25 years, a total of 63%, followed by age group 16-20 years, 25.5%, and age group 26-30 years, 11.5%. Discussion and Conclusion In this study, we discovered from the responses obtained that majority of the students in Delta State University are aware of tattoo and body piercing and these act is progressively increasing among young adults. This finding agrees with Demello’s  14 observation that tattoo and body piercing has increased tremendously in popularity, rising not only in numbers but also dependent on the social classes of those involved. A similar observation was also recorded by Ezeibekwe et al. 15 stating that  these  two  forms  of  body  modifications  are  increasingly gaining ground among University undergraduate students from Ibadan.It is obvious that the ills and believes previously associated with tattooing and body piercing is gradually been eroded. From our study, males were mostly involved in tattooing while females are mostly involved in body piercing. These findings are in terms with the  observation of Totten et al. 16 and Atkinson 17 that tattoos and body piercing have been noted to be subjected to gender norms, and as such, male and female are being accessed differently. Ezeibekwe  et al. 15 also stated that unlike the growing convergence in the deposition of the two sexes toward tattooing, a sharp difference still exists in  the involvement of the two sexes in body piercing. Body piercing among females is usually seen as a norm in most part of the world without negative attachment as compared to body piercing among men. Students wear tattoo and/or engage in body piercing  for  different  reasons  which  include:  fashion, peer pressure, sexual attractions, show for  strength  and  Identification.  Other  reasons  given were an imitation of role models and love for artwork. Craik 18 and Turner 19 have similarly observed that tattoos and body piercing today are  mainly  fashion  accessories.  These  findings  also equally corroborate the position of Wessely 20 that people’s motivations for tattooing could be emotional, practical, complex, or very simple. Also, Currie 21 and Meltzer 22 found that 62% of people who have had piercings have done so in an effort “to express their individuality.” Some people  pierce, permanently or temporarily, to enhance sexual pleasure. Genital and nipple piercings may increase sexual satisfaction. Despite the acceptance gained by body modifiers,  40%  of  respondent  still  find  their  colleagues  who engage in tattoo and body piercing as irresponsible and reckless. A similar observation was recorded by Ezeibekwe et al. 15 stating that those who engage in any of these modifications  are still largely viewed by their colleagues who do not embrace the practice, as irresponsibleand dangerous. It was given from this study that 65.8% and 68.0% maintained that they will not consider tattooing and body piercing respectively in the future. This could be a result of the health risk, personal opinion, religious and cultural believes. This  finding  implies  that  the  presence  of  these  body  modifications  may  cause  people  to  avoid  social contact and intimacy with the wearer, since they are presumed to have physical abnormalities and deviations that occur naturally12. This study disclosed that students of Delta State University are aware of tattoo and body piercing and also gave a growing convergence on the two sexes toward tattooing and a sharp difference in  the involvement of the two sexes towards the body piercing. Majority of these young adult are also aware of the health risks associated with body modifications and may not consider it in the future.  Conflicts of interests: Nil Source of fund: (if any): Nil Conflict of interest: Nil Ethical clearence: Permission was sought from the Department of Human Anatomy Ethics and Research Committee. Authors’s contribution: All authors in the study read the manuscript and made great input Data gathering and idea owner of this study: All authors were involved in the gathering of data Editing  and  approval  of  final  draft: All  authors  were involved in the editing and approval of final  draft 29 International Journal of Human and Health Sciences Vol. 06 No. 01 January’22 References: 1. 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