Attitude and Perception to Tattoos and Scarified Skin Marks in Makurdi, North Central Nigeria | Chapter 13 | Innovations in Medicine and Medical Research Vol. 1
Aim:
Tattoo art which has been practiced all over the world for centuries is
undergoing a revolution. Some people like it, others don’t. The aim of the
study was to estimate the prevalence of tattooing among students and residents
of Makurdi, like or dislike, who gave consent before tattooing,
symbolism/motive of tattooing and whom to go to for removal of tattoos.
Study
Design: A survey research using structured
questionnaire as instrument for data collection among students of Benue State
University and residents of Makurdi over a period of one month in January,
2017.
Methodology:
Views of one hundred and seventy two residents and students
in Makurdi, North Central Nigeria, were collated via a pre-tested
structured questionnaire and analyzed on the basis of sex, age, like/dislike of
tattoos, symbolism, consent given, whether one would tattoo himself if given a
chance and what to do when one got tired of tattoos.
Results:
Two hundred and ten questionnaires were administered and one hundred and
seventy two were returned giving attrition rate of 18.1%. All returned
questionnaires were completely filled. One hundred and seventy two respondents
participated in the study comprising 123 males and 49 females giving a male to
female ratio of 2.5:1. Twenty one respondents had tattoos giving a tattoo
prevalence of 12.2%. One hundred and thirty eight (80.2%) did not like tattoos
and forty two (24.4%) indicated that there was no significance to symbolism of
tattoos and indeed thirty (17.4%) felt tattoos are a body mutilation. One
hundred and fifty one (87.8%) indicated they will not have tattoos when given a
chance to do so. Ninety seven (56.4%) believed the best person to go to for
tattoo removal is a Plastic Surgeon.
Conclusion:
The study showed that majority of students and residents of Makurdi metropolis
in Nigeria do not like tattoos and would not like to have one when given a
chance to do so. A large scale study involving other parts of Nigeria needs to
be done to assess a true like/dislike of tattoos in this environment.
Author(s) Details
Dr. P. Denen Akaa
Department of Surgery,
College of Health Sciences, Benue State University, Makurdi, Nigeria.
Dr. C. N. Ahachi
Benue State University
Teaching Hospital, Makurdi, Nigeria.
Dr. Ojo Babarinde
Benue State University
Teaching Hospital, Makurdi, Nigeria.
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