PURPOSE Despite recent increases in the popularity of tattooing, little is known about the prevalence and characteristics of adults who have ever been tattooed. We investigated demographic and behavioral correlates of ever getting tattooed in an adult population. METHODS Computer-assisted telephone interviews were completed by a representative sample of 8656 men and women ages 16-64 years in ...

Among the Kanuri and Shuwa peoples of northern Nigeria, tattooing of lips by young girls and women is fashionable and is seen as enhancing the beauty and value of the women. A cross-sectional study was conducted to assess the knowledge and perception of HIV/AIDS among the Kanuri and Shuwa peoples in relation to traditional oral tattoo practices. A total of 1202 persons (50.4% males) responded t...

BACKGROUND The performance and results of corneal tattooing are described in a case series of 11 patients suffering from a disfiguring corneal scar using a technique similar to conventional dermatography. METHODS Drawing ink in different shades was applied into the anterior corneal stroma by punctures performed with a conventional spatula needle. RESULTS Up to 4 years after surgery all pati...

In examining affective motivations and meanings associated with kin-based tattooing, this article proposes a practice of ‘s/kinship’: the tangible inscription relational personhood on body. While research Western tattooing has long been drawn into discourses deviance individual identity, little attention paid to social relations. Drawing surveys interview data, highlights significance kinship o...