Republic of Iraq
Ministry of Higher Education
and Scientific Research
Tikrit University
College of Medicine
Prevalence of tattooing and knowledge about its
risk on health among Tikrit University students
(2024-2025)
Supervised By: Assist.Prof.Dr.Mayada Kamel Mohammed
A Research Submitted By :
Rabeea Dhyeea Rabeea Abdullah Khalil Abdullah
Sumaya Fawzy Mahmoud Marah Mubarak Sari
Abdulrhman Abdulrazaq Ramadhan
1.INTRODUCTION
Recently, tattooing has gained increasing popularity worldwide especially among
adolescents.
Although the literatures differ on the basis of area and population studied, it indicates
that body art is increasingly accepted by all social classes and age groups, but especially
by adolescents and youths. In Western society, tattooing have become mainstream
activities among adolescents and young adults.Prevalence of tattooing in these age
groups vary by country and setting, ranging from 1 to 24%. Unfortunately, with this
higher demand, the number of unprofessional tattooists has increased creating more
complications due to frequent procedures carried out without any knowledge of health
and hygiene rules . Evidence showed that tattooed individuals have a higher risk of being
infected by blood-borne viruses, including hepatitis B and C, HIV . The research
potentially has implications for the development of information and health education
relating to tattooing.
Public health knowledge relating to tattooing as a risk factor for infectious disease and
other adverse health outcomes is still relatively undeveloped. An assessment of university
students is significant because they are still in a stage of transition to independent decision
making regarding health behaviour. As well, university students constitute a large
population of young persons who may be increasing engaged in tattooing. This research
should enable a fuller understanding of the risk implications and help in directing
appropriate prevention and harm reduction initiatives.
Therefore, it is important to inform adolescents and young adults about possible health
hazardsassociated with tattooing. Most of the data on body art practices (BAP) among
adolescents and young adults are available from developed countries. However, due to the
cross-culture andlearning from the western society, BAP such as tattooing is likely to be
highly prevalent also in the developing countries.
Only few studies on tattoo have been conducted in Iraq so far.However, we could not
find any such study so far documented regarding prevalence of tattooing and its
associated health risk among adolescent. A simple search of tattoo prevalence in Iraq
reveal that tattooing is relatively rare, with most of the literature concerning tattoos in
Iraq focusing on the sociopolitical implications of tattoos as related to religious
practices, or the significance of tattoos among refugees.
However, one cross-sectional study of patients in the Al-Imamein Al-Kadhimein
Medical City revealed a tattoo prevalence of 26.5%. Data from other Middle-Eastern
regions is just as paradoxical. While tattoos are strictly forbidden in Islam, a 2008
study revealed a tattoo prevalence of 24% in Iran.
2.Aim:
The aim of this research is to assess and
determine Prevalence of tattooing and
knowledge about its risk on health among
Tikrit university students
3.Research Objectives
1. Identify the prevalence of tattooing among Tikrit University students
2. Determine the awareness level of health risks associated with
tattooing among the students
3. Compare the prevalence of tattooing with the knowledge of
health risks among the students
4. Identify factors influencing students' decisions regarding tattooing
&their awareness of health risks
5. Propose recommendations for promoting awareness and safe
practices among Tikrit University students
4.Subject and methods
Design of the Study: A descriptive design was adapted throughout the present study
from 25th August 2024 to 20th February 2025 in order to assess the prevalence of
tattooing and knowledge about its risk on health among Tikrit university students
Administrative Arrangements: Prior to the actual collection of the data,
permission granted from the College of Medicine , Tikrit University
Settings of the Study: The present study is conducted in Tikrit University (College of
Medicine , College of Pharmacy , College of Dentistry , College of Science , College of
Education for Pure Science,Education College for Girls )
Study sample: A (non-probability) sample is selected for the purpose of study
which includes (200) Students . The samples were selected from the students at
Tikrit University
Methods of Data Collection: The data are collected through the employment of
assessment instrument and the online technique as a means of data collection
5.Ethical Considerations
1. It was obtained from the ethical committee and permission was
obtained from the concerned authority
2. Written consent was obtained from subjects Confidentiality of the data is
maintained as strictly participants are not forced to involve the study Only the
samples that were signed the consent form are included in the study.
6.Results
7.Conclusion
1.The results of this study concluded that a large proportion of respondents have good knowledge of the health
risks and complications resulting from tattooing.
2.Practically no differences were found between tattooed and non-tattooed individuals regarding knowledge of
these various factors.
3.No differences were found among men regarding their knowledge of complications; and the types were not divided
according to their demographic types such as age or the method they depend on with statistical significance
4.Statistical significance was found only when considering the teachings of the Islamic religion and the
educational level
5.These results may help in effective planning of comprehensive health plans for those who have revealed in
tattoos.
6.On the other hand, the responses of their friends and family when they got the tattoo were often negative
and unacceptable
8.Recommendations
- To the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research in Iraq
1.Urging universities and research centers to increase research on the risks related to tattoos and work
on developing the scientific aspect to detect diseases related to them
2.Enhancing cooperation between medical colleges in universities and the Ministry of Health to create
official platforms and applications to provide health services to individuals who have diseases caused by
tattoos
3.Increasing the awareness of university employees, especially academic ones, about the health
risks of tattoos and their negative effects, as well as the use of health platforms and their
applications by holding seminars and awareness campaigns in the departments of various
universities
4.Establishing a medical platform to provide medical advice and consultations to university
employees and students in cooperation with the faculties of medicine, dentistry and pharmacy
in universities
8.Recommendations
- To the Ministry of Health in Iraq:
1.Increasing the awareness of the population about the importance of using health
applications in their daily lives through awareness bulletins in hospitals and health centers,
in addition to awareness programs on television and social media platforms
2.Establishing health platforms to provide private health care for patients with tattoo-related
diseases such as HIV and viral hepatitis to facilitate remote monitoring of their health condition
without the need to visit hospitals
3.Preparing the current health system to implement health programs in it by providing
technical and practical requirements.
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