Knowledge of potential risk of blood-borne viral infections and tattooing practice among adults in Mandalay Region, Myanmar.

Introduction: Tattooing especially gains popularity among both men and women in adulthood from the wide range of socioeconomic groups and is noted as a risk taking behaviour in adults. Especially when tattooing does not perform to the highest standards, it can potentially be the hazardous practice. Myanmar has a paucity of evidence-based information on the estimated prevalence of tattoos and awareness of potential disease transmission from tattooing under insanitary conditions as well as the infection risk. The present research was undertaken to help identify the self-reported prevalence of tattooing among adults (18-35 years) and their knowledge of transmission risk of blood-borne infections and its determinants.

Methods: A community-based cross-sectional study focused on residents aged 18-35 years was carried out in two urban and two rural areas in Mandalay district, Mandalay Region during 2015. Trained interviewers used a pre-tested structured questionnaire for face-to-face interviews with one eligible participant per selected household (n = 401). Bivariate analysis and multivariable analysis using binary logistic regression were done to ascertain the relevant explanatory variables.

Results: The overall self-reported prevalence of tattooing was 19.5% (78/401) (95% CI = 16-24). Nearly 80% of participants (318/401) knew at least one blood-borne viral infection that could be transmitted from tattooing. The persons who had high formal education, manual laborers and those who lived with their families were significantly more likely to cite at least one blood-borne viral infection. Their perceived possibility to remove tattoo independently influenced the practice of tattooing (aOR = 1.91, 95% CI = 1.06-3.45; p = 0.03) compared with participants who reported no perceived possibility. Tattooing was more common in male (aOR = 13.07, 95% CI = 6.25-27.33; p<0.001) compared to female which was independently significant.

Conclusions: This study ascertained the tattoo prevalence as two in ten adults of working age especially among male in central part of Myanmar in the context of lack of registration system for tattoo parlours and the issuance of safety guidelines. Findings have suggested the target groups and risk factors to be included in future health promotion programs. Future research directions should focus on perspectives of tattooists to create and sustain the sanitary practices to reduce the chance of transmission of blood-borne viral infections.