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Prison Inmates’ Intention to Demand That Bleach Be Used for Cleaning Tattooing and Piercing Equipment

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Abstract

Objective

The aim of this study was to document the phenomenon of tattooing and piercing in prisons in Quebec and to identify factors underlying the intention of inmates to demand that equipment used in prison for piercing and tattooing be cleaned with bleach.

Method

A total of 1,434 inmates recruited in seven prisons completed a questionnaire with the help of a community worker. The questionnaire was developed using an integrative model based on the Theory of Planned Behaviour.

Results

One third of respondents had been tattooed in prison in the past and 2.6% had a piercing; 27.2% of the tattooing and 30.5% of the piercing were carried out using unsafe equipment. Three quarters of the respondents expressed a firm intention to demand that equipment used for tattooing or piercing be cleaned with bleach. Logistic regression analysis showed that personal normative beliefs (OR 5.09; 95% CI 3.54–7.32), perceived behavioural control (OR 3.55; 95% CI 2.48–5.08) and role beliefs (OR 3.23; 95% CI 1.72–6.06) were the significant determinants of intention.

Conclusion

Interventions aimed at encouraging safer tattooing and piercing activities in prison should focus on inmates’ sense of responsibility, obstacles impeding adoption of this behaviour and promotion of this behaviour as an integral part of the culture in the prison environment.

Résumé

Objectifs

Cette étude visait à documenter le phénomène du tatouage et du perçage dans les prisons du Québec, ainsi qu’à cerner les facteurs qui pousseraient des personnes incarcérées à exiger que le matériel utilisé lors des tatouages et perçages effectués en prison soit nettoyé à l’eau de Javel.

Méthode

Au total, 1 434 détenus recrutés dans sept prisons ont répondu à un questionnaire avec l’assistance d’un intervenant communautaire. Le questionnaire avait été élaboré à partir d’un modèle intégrateur basé sur la théorie du comportement planifié.

Résultats

Parmi les répondants, 36 % s’étaient déjà fait tatouer et 2,6 % s’étaient fait percer pendant leur détention. Cependant, 27,2 % des tatouages et 30,5 % des perçages avaient été réalisés avec du matériel non sécuritaire. Les trois quarts des répondants ont exprimé la ferme intention d’exiger que le matériel soit nettoyé à l’eau de Javel. L’analyse de régression logistique a montré que les convictions personnelles (RC = 5,09; IC de 95 % = 3,54-7,32), la perception du contrôle comportemental (RC = 3,55; IC de 95 % = 2,48-5,08) et les croyances dans les rôles sociaux (RC = 3,23; IC de 95 % = 1,72-6,06) étaient les principaux déterminants significatifs de l’intention.

Conclusion

Une intervention visant à favoriser le tatouage ou le perçage plus sécuritaire en prison devrait principalement s’intéresser au sens des responsabilités des détenus, aux barrières à surmonter pour adopter ce comportement ainsi qu’à la promotion de ce comportement comme faisant partie intégrante de la « culture » du milieu de détention.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Community Health Program, Faculty of Nursing, Paul-Comtois Building, Laval University, Quebec, QC, G1K 7P4, Canada

    Hélène Gagnon PhD (Cand.)

  2. Canada Research Chair on Behaviour and Health, Canada

    Gaston Godin PhD

  3. Faculty of Nursing, Université Laval, Canada

    Gaston Godin PhD & Léo-Daniel Lambert MPs

  4. Research Unit of Health in Populations, University Affiliated Hospital Center of Quebec, National Institute of Public Health of Quebec, Canada

    Michel Alary PhD & Suzanne Landry MA

  5. Department of Social and Preventive Medicine, Laval University, Canada

    Michel Alary PhD

  6. Department of Public Health of Montreal, Montreal, QC, Canada

    Gilles Lambert MD

Authors
  1. Hélène Gagnon PhD (Cand.)
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  2. Gaston Godin PhD
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  3. Michel Alary PhD
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  4. Gilles Lambert MD
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  5. Léo-Daniel Lambert MPs
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  6. Suzanne Landry MA
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Hélène Gagnon PhD (Cand.).

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Gagnon, H., Godin, G., Alary, M. et al. Prison Inmates’ Intention to Demand That Bleach Be Used for Cleaning Tattooing and Piercing Equipment. Can J Public Health 98, 297–300 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03405407

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03405407

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