• Bharati Deodas Bisen
• Dr. Nutan Prakash Makasare
• Ms. Snehalata Dilip Karhade

ABSTRACT Introduction Tattooing and body piercing are age-old cultural practices that have evolved into popular forms of personal expression among adolescents and young adults. In modern society, especially among college students, these practices are often influenced by fashion trends, peer groups, and social media. Although tattooing and body piercing are generally considered safe when performed under hygienic conditions, lack of awareness about proper procedures and aftercare can result in serious health problems such as skin infections, allergic reactions, scarring, and transmission of blood-borne diseases. Hence, understanding students’ knowledge and attitude toward the health hazards related to these practices is important for promoting safer behavior. Background Young adults frequently opt for tattooing and body piercing without adequate knowledge of possible complications or the importance of sterile techniques. Many students rely on informal sources of information, which may be inaccurate or incomplete. This gap in knowledge may lead to risky practices and long-term health consequences. Assessing the level of awareness and attitude among college students will help in identifying existing gaps and planning appropriate educational programs to reduce health risks. Aims To assess the knowledge and attitude regarding the health hazards of tattooing and body piercing among students of selected senior colleges, in order to develop an information booklet for improving their awareness and safe practices. Objectives 1. To assess the level of knowledge regarding health hazards of tattooing and body piercing among senior college students. 2. To assess the attitude regarding health hazards of tattooing and body piercing among senior college students. 3. To determine the correlation between knowledge and attitude regarding health hazards of tattooing and body piercing. 4. To find the association between knowledge and attitude with selected demographic variables. Methodology A quantitative research approach with a descriptive research design was adopted for the study. The sample consisted of 100 senior college student’s selected using simple random sampling technique from selected colleges in the city. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire to assess knowledge and an attitude scale to assess attitude. The collected data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics based on the objectives of the study. Result The findings showed that 60% of students had average knowledge, 31% had poor knowledge, and only 9% had good knowledge regarding health hazards of tattooing and body piercing, with a mean knowledge score of 6.88 ± 2.57. With respect to attitude, 69% of students had a favorable attitude, 29% had a neutral attitude, and 2% showed a highly favorable attitude, with a mean attitude score of 53.05 ± 7.82. A strong positive correlation was observed between knowledge and attitude (r = 0.889, p = 0.0001). Age and undergraduate stream were significantly associated with knowledge, while age showed significant association with attitude. Other variables such as gender, academic year, residence, and family income did not show any significant association with knowledge or attitude. Conclusion The study concludes that although most senior college students have a favorable attitude toward the health risks associated with tattooing and body piercing, their level of knowledge remains only moderate. This indicates the need for focused health education programs to improve awareness and encourage safe practices related to tattooing and body piercing among young adults. Recommendation’s Similar research involving larger cohorts of students could enhance the generalizability of the findings. Investigations in diverse contexts, including urban or semi-urban colleges, may elucidate the influence of environment or culture on knowledge and attitudes. Experimental studies can evaluate the influence of structured teaching programs on students' knowledge and attitudes regarding tattooing and body piercing.

(KEY WORDS: Tattooing, Body Piercing, Health Hazards, Knowledge, Attitude, Senior College Students.)

"“A STUDY TO ASSESS THE KNOWLEDGE AND ATTITUDE REGARDING HEALTH HAZARDS OF TATTOOING AND BODY PIERCING AMONG STUDENTS OF SELECTED SENIOR COLLEGES, WITH A VIEW TO DEVELOP AN INFORMATION BOOKLET”.", International Journal of Emerging Technologies and Innovative Research (www.jetir.org), ISSN:2349-5162, Vol.13, Issue 9, page no.b167-b174, September-2026, Available :http://www.jetir.org/papers/JETIR2609119.pdf

"“A STUDY TO ASSESS THE KNOWLEDGE AND ATTITUDE REGARDING HEALTH HAZARDS OF TATTOOING AND BODY PIERCING AMONG STUDENTS OF SELECTED SENIOR COLLEGES, WITH A VIEW TO DEVELOP AN INFORMATION BOOKLET”.", International Journal of Emerging Technologies and Innovative Research (www.jetir.org | UGC and issn Approved), ISSN:2349-5162, Vol.13, Issue 9, page no. ppb167-b174, September-2026, Available at : http://www.jetir.org/papers/JETIR2609119.pdf