CHAPTER ONE

• INTRODUCTION AND PROBLEM STATEMENT

Body piercing and tattoo have become acceptable form of body decoration in our society today. Our society glamorized the use of tattoos. This is seen by the increase number of people wearing it. Yet despite the growing popularity of body piercing and tattoo the health risks associated with them are not widely known by those wearing them.

Tattooing is an indelible design done by inserting pigment in punctures in the skin. Tattoo is created by rapidly and repeatedly infecting ink into the dermal layer of the skin with a small needle to develop a permanent coloration (Meltzer, 2005). Temporary tattoo also exists, it does not involve any permanent alteration of the skin but it produces an appearance similar to a permanent tattoo (Pegas et al, 2002). It can last from a few days to several weeks.

The word “piercing” derives from the English verb to “pierce”, which means to transfix and this is a deliberate and somewhat semi-permanent procedure. Body piercing is the act of creating of holes in parts of body other than the ear in order to insert rings, studs, other pieces of jewellery. In other words body piercing is the practice or an instance of adorning the body with jewelry or ornamentationthat penetrates the flesh. Body modification occurs across the globe today in various forms and for many reasons (Barker, 2002). Examples of body modifications from around the world include nose piercing associated with Hinduism, neck elongation in Thailand and Africa, henna tattooing in southeast Asia and the middle East, tooth filing in Bali, lip piercing and earlobe stretching in Africa, female and male circumcision in many areas of the world (Larkin et al, 2004).

• STATEMENT OF PROBLEM

According to insurmountable sources, piercings, especially in the ear primarily, have been around since 2500BC? And have been worn not only by women, but by men as well all around the world including William shakespere and Julius Casear. As body piercings become increasingly popular in modern culture, it has brought many researchers to the realization that this trend is a tragic insight into an individual’s psyche as well as their physical being and opportunities in the work place even though it’s seen as a way to express one’s self. Socially and economically, body piercings among other forms of body modifications, have not only benefited individuals but may also be quickly destroying them, (Barfleby, 2021).

Two prominent historical examples of body modification or piercing are foot-binding and corseting. For hundreds of years, foot binding was commonly performed in china on girls, beginning between the ages of 3 and 7and continuing throughout their lives in which all toes especially the big one were broken and folded under. The foot was then wrapped very tightly, the bandages were change frequently maintaining constant pressure.

By the end of the process, women’s feet were usually only a few inches long (Hong 1997). Men reportedly found the tiny feet, swishy walk, and apparent frailty highly erotic. Although foot binding essentially crippled the women who underwent the process, parents continued the practice of attracting a husband.

When china was opened to the west, the 1950’s it was largely a relic of the past. Other cultures have imposed similarly constrictive and debilitating body modifications on women’s bodies. In western nations during the Victorian era, women were expected to wear stiff corsets in an attempt to obtain the ideal curvaceous feminine figure with broad hips and tiny waists cinched as small as 12 inches (Riordan, 2007). Such corseting was in fact a form of permanent body modification,with severally tight lacing.

Women’s bodies came to “literally incorporate the corset as the ribs and internal organs gradually adapted to its shape”(Riordan,2007). This practice both reflected ideas about women’s natural frailty and contributed to such notions as tight lacing left many short of breath and even unable to stand for long periods of time without support. While such restrictive corsery has gone out of fashion western women and girls are now encouraged to discipline and control their bodies with other practices such as extreme dieting and punishing exercise regimes.

In addition, both women and men in the US today are increasingly modifying their bodies through practices such as cosmetic surgery, body piercing, tattooing and tanning (kaatz et al, 2008). Common piercing sites include the ears, nose, tongue, eyebrow, lip, nipple, navel and genitals, with the ear being the most common site for both males and females (Larkin et al, 2004).while some engage in piercing for the sake of fashion, researchers report that others, it is a way to take control of their bodies, especially after being violated.

As one rape victim reported, “I’m getting pierced to reclaim my body, I have been used and abused, my body was taken by another without my consent, now by the ritual of piercing I claim my body as my own, I heal my wounds” (Jeffreys, 2000).

Tattooing haslike wise grown in popularity over the last decades and has not only rise in numbers, but also involving a broader range of social classes(Demella, 2000).however the procedure is not without adverse effect or reactions from the substances remaining in the skin (Marta et al,2007).

Many people only have the body piercing but they donot know what tools are used for body piercings, (Oufer, 2019).

People wear tattoos for different reasons; for attention, self expression, artistic freedom, and rebellion, a visual display of a personal narrative, reminders of spiritual / cultural traditions, sexual motivations, addiction, and identification with group or even drunken impulsiveness which have very serious damaging effects or consequences thereafter to our wellbeing. Tattoos may be accidental (abrasion injury), repairing/ cosmetic (areola reconstruction) or decorative and piercing may be temporal or permanent which constitute an art recognized since ancient times (Egyptian mommies) and popularize since 1990s.

Body piercing and tattooing is becoming very attractive and popular globally. The prevalence of body piercing among adolescents is about 25% to 56% as reported by (kohut et al, 2007).body piercing and tattooing is performed in different parts of the body andinclude multiple ear piercing, piercing of navel, nipples, nose,eyelids and other sensitive part of the body. Body piercing and tattooing, if not done by a professional and in a safe environment endangers the individual and may lead to diseases and infections that affect the individual and may lead to diseases and infections that affect the individual (Deschensnes, 2006).

Complications arising from body piercing and tattooing are mostly limited to case reports (Clin infectdis, 2006). Many authors recognize tattooing and body piercing as possible vectors for transmission of blood borne diseases, such as hepatitis B,hepatitis C or HIV, Syphilis, Dermatitis, (public health pol, 2012). A 1999 United Kingdom survey of family practitioners showed that 95% of them have seen patients with complications resulting from a piercing (NEHA, 2010).

The investigator came across a young girl who had a serious infection on her breast because of the tattoo she had designed on her breast. As a result of this she had a deformity and a large keloid on her breast. All of this made her to spend much money in the hospital and also brought stigma on her.

During a visit to Lower Bosumbu Community in limbe I the investigator came across a 20yeras old boy who had a large scar (scarification). He said he cannot wear any cloths that expose his fore arm because of stigmatization. This keeps him so worried. Inspite several articles published on precautions and complications of body piercing and tattooing, the number of complications related to body piercing and tattooing keep rising in our society.

Despite the mainstream popularity of body arts, many people still see Facial piercings as unprofessional and unwelcome in the Workplace,(McElroy,et al, 2014).

This study seeks to explore and assess youth knowledge and perception on body piercing and tattooing on the desire and consequences of this body modification.

1.3 RESEARCH QUESTION

1. What knowledge do youths aged (18-30 year) have about the consequences of body piercing / tattoo in the Busumbu Community.
2. What makes some of the youths of Busumbu community to have the desire for body piercing and tattooing.
   • RESEARCH OBJECTIVE
     • GENERAL OBJECTIVE

To assessing the knowledge of youths in the Busumbu community limbe on the desire for body piercing and tattoos and its effects.

1.4.2 SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES

• To identify sociol-Demographie data of the respondents
• To find out what the respondents know about tattoos and body piercing
• To assess respondents knowledge about the consequences of tattoos and body piercing