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Body piercing: lifestyle indicator or fashion accessory?
1Royal South Hants Hospital, Southampton University Hospitals NHS Trust, Southampton SO14 0YG, UK. Fred.Willmott@suht.swest.nhs.uk
International Journal of STD & AIDS
|May 23, 2001
Summary
Body piercing (BP) prevalence was studied in women at an STD clinic. While 32% had BP, it was not linked to STDs, socioeconomic status, or sexual behavior, suggesting fashion as the primary driver.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Dermatology
- Sociology
Background:
- Body piercing (BP) is a common practice with varying prevalence across demographics.
- Understanding BP prevalence in specific populations, like those attending sexually transmitted disease (STD) clinics, is important for public health insights.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the prevalence of body piercing (BP) among women attending an STD clinic.
- To identify demographic, socioeconomic, and sexual indicators associated with BP in this population.
Main Methods:
- A study was conducted on 152 new female patients at the Southampton STD clinic.
- Data collected included BP status, piercing sites, and demographic/sexual health information.
Main Results:
- 32% of women (52 out of 152) reported having body piercings, with navel piercings being the most common (25%).
- BP was more frequent in women with multiple ear piercings (49%), non-smokers (22%), and younger women.
- No association was found between BP and socioeconomic class, contraception method, multiple partners, or genital infections.
Conclusions:
- Body piercing prevalence in this STD clinic population is significant.
- BP in women attending an STD clinic is not correlated with indicators of sexual risk or infection.
- The findings suggest fashion is the primary motivation for body piercing.
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