What about Your Body Ornament? Experiences of Tattoo and Piercing among Italian Youths

Francesca Gallè, Federica Valeriani, Daniela Marotta, Andrea De Giorgi, Annalisa Bargellini, Aida Bianco, Maria Eugenia Colucci, Maria Anna Coniglio, Laura Dallolio, Osvalda De Giglio, Gabriella Di Giuseppe, Giusy Diella, Pasqualina Laganà, Francesca Licata, Giorgio Liguori, Isabella Marchesi, Sofia Marini, Maria Teresa Montagna, Christian Napoli, Giovanni Battista Orsi, Cesira Pasquarella, Concetta Paola Pelullo, Luca Ricciardi, Vincenzo Romano Spica, Rossella Sacchetti, Stefano Tardivo, Licia Veronesi, Matteo Vitali and Carmela Protano
Additional contact information
Francesca Gallè: Department of Movement Sciences and Wellbeing, University of Naples “Parthenope”, 80133 Naples, Italy
Federica Valeriani: Department of Movement, Human, and Health Sciences, University of Rome “Foro Italico”, 00135 Rome, Italy
Daniela Marotta: Department of Public Health and Infectious Diseases, Sapienza University of Rome, 00185 Rome, Italy
Andrea De Giorgi: Department of Public Health and Infectious Diseases, Sapienza University of Rome, 00185 Rome, Italy
Annalisa Bargellini: Department of Biomedical, Metabolic and Neural Sciences, Section of Public Health, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, 41125 Modena, Italy
Aida Bianco: Department of Health Sciences, School of Medicine, University of Catanzaro “Magna Græcia”, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy
Maria Eugenia Colucci: Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Parma, 43125 Parma, Italy
Maria Anna Coniglio: Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences and Advanced Technologies “G.F. Ingrassia”, University of Catania, 95123 Catania, Italy
Laura Dallolio: Department of Biomedical and Neuromotor Sciences Alma Mater Studiorum, University of Bologna, 40126 Bologna, Italy
Osvalda De Giglio: Department of Biomedical Sciences and Human Oncology, University of Bari “Aldo Moro”, 70124 Bari, Italy
Gabriella Di Giuseppe: Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Campania “Luigi Vanvitelli”, 80138 Naples, Italy
Giusy Diella: Department of Biomedical Sciences and Human Oncology, University of Bari “Aldo Moro”, 70124 Bari, Italy
Pasqualina Laganà: Department of Biomedical and Dental Sciences and Morphofunctional Imaging, University of Messina, 98122 Messina, Italy
Francesca Licata: Department of Health Sciences, School of Medicine, University of Catanzaro “Magna Græcia”, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy
Giorgio Liguori: Department of Movement Sciences and Wellbeing, University of Naples “Parthenope”, 80133 Naples, Italy
Isabella Marchesi: Department of Biomedical, Metabolic and Neural Sciences, Section of Public Health, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, 41125 Modena, Italy
Sofia Marini: Department of Biomedical and Neuromotor Sciences Alma Mater Studiorum, University of Bologna, 40126 Bologna, Italy
Maria Teresa Montagna: Department of Biomedical Sciences and Human Oncology, University of Bari “Aldo Moro”, 70124 Bari, Italy
Christian Napoli: Department of Medical Surgical Sciences and Translational Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, 00139 Rome, Italy
Giovanni Battista Orsi: Department of Public Health and Infectious Diseases, Sapienza University of Rome, 00185 Rome, Italy
Cesira Pasquarella: Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Parma, 43125 Parma, Italy
Concetta Paola Pelullo: Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Campania “Luigi Vanvitelli”, 80138 Naples, Italy
Luca Ricciardi: Department of Neuroscience, Mental Health and Sense Organs (NESMOS), Sapienza University of Rome, 00189 Rome, Italy
Vincenzo Romano Spica: Department of Movement, Human, and Health Sciences, University of Rome “Foro Italico”, 00135 Rome, Italy
Rossella Sacchetti: Department of Education Studies “Giovanni Maria Bertin”, University of Bologna, 40126 Bologna, Italy
Stefano Tardivo: Department of Diagnostic and Public Health, University of Verona, 37134 Verona, Italy
Licia Veronesi: Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Parma, 43125 Parma, Italy
Matteo Vitali: Department of Public Health and Infectious Diseases, Sapienza University of Rome, 00185 Rome, Italy
Carmela Protano: Department of Public Health and Infectious Diseases, Sapienza University of Rome, 00185 Rome, Italy

IJERPH, 2021, vol. 18, issue 23, 1-10

Abstract: Background: tattooing and piercing are increasingly common, especially among youths. However, several health complications may be associated with these practices if basic hygiene rules are not respected. This multicenter study was aimed at exploring tattoo and piercing experiences reported by a large sample of Italian undergraduate students through a public health perspective. Methods: tattooed and/or pierced students attending 12 Italian universities were asked to complete a web-based questionnaire regarding their body art experience. Results: out of 1472 respondents, 833 (56.6%) were tattooed and 1009 (68.5%) were pierced. The greatest proportion of tattooed students (93.9%) got her/his first tattoo in a tattoo studio, while most of the pierced were serviced in a jewelry store (48.0%). The pierced ones were less informed on health issues related to the procedure (56.0% versus 77.8% of tattooed p < 0.001), and tattooists were reportedly more attentive to hygiene rules (instrument sterilization 91.5% versus 79.1% of piercers, p < 0.001; use of disposable gloves 98.2% versus 71% of piercers, p < 0.001). Conclusions: educational interventions for both professionals and communities are needed to improve the awareness and the control of health risks related to body art throughout the Italian territory.

Keywords: body piercing; tattooing; young adults; adverse effects; prevention and control (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
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