Youth and tattoos: what school health personnel should know.
Though tattooing has been practiced by various cultures for centuries, this art form has undergone dramatic changes the past few decades. Today, tattoos appeal to diverse populations and mainstream culture. The proliferation of tattooing prompted increased concern for safety and awareness of hazardous conditions. Transmission of infectious diseases, such as hepatitis B and C, and theoretically, HIV, can occur when proper sterilization and safety procedures are not followed. While there are many populations at risk, a critical at-risk group is adolescents. Tattooing among adolescents is a risk-taking behavior that warrants the attention of health education in assisting adolescents in becoming informed decision-makers. Teaching and advocacy strategies are suggested, and roles for school health personnel are presented.
Brown
K M
KM
Dept. of Community and Family Health, Florida Prevention Research Center, University of South Florida, College of Public Health, 13201 Bruce B. Downs Blvd., Tampa, FL 33612-3805, USA. kmbrown@hsc.usf.edu
Perlmutter
P
P
McDermott
R J
RJ
D000293:Adolescent; D000294:Adolescent Behavior; D017848:Blood-Borne Pathogens; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000209:etiology / Q000635:transmission; D006282:Health Personnel / Q000193:education; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000209:etiology / Q000635:transmission; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000209:etiology / Q000635:transmission; D006801:Humans; D006967:Hypersensitivity / Q000209:etiology; D008297:Male; D012309:Risk-Taking; D012572:School Health Services; D013653:Tattooing / Q000009:adverse effects*; D014481:United States