In Ghaziabad Due to Unsafe Tattoo Practices 20 Women Contract HIV in Four Years

At the District Women's Hospital in Ghaziabad, 68 women have been found HIV positive over the last four years via prenatal screening, and among them, 20 women have stated that they probably contracted the virus from getting tattoos done by roadside artists.

Unsafe Tattoo Practices cause Infections

This trend has come to light through HIV counseling sessions conducted after the screenings wherein many women noted that their health began to deteriorate shortly after receiving tattoos.                                                    Infection Risk of Dangerous Tattooing Practices

Uma Singh, a hospital HIV counselor said that 15 to 20 women test positive for HIV each year at this hospital, mainly due to unsanitary procedures with regard to tattooing. Tattooing itself is not a cause for infection but the use of the same needle with a series of clients drastically increases the HIV transmission rates. When the same needle that had been used on an HIV infected person is then used without being sterilized, the virus will be transmitted to the person it is used on next. In this kind of case, there seems to be the origin of infections from the repeated use of unsterilized needles, commonly seen with roadside tattoo artists.

0.3% Infection Risk from Tattooing

Dr. Shaifali Agarwal, a pathologist argued that sterile appliances should be used in tattoos, as every tattoo should be given with a brand new disposable needle. It raises the chances of infections by 0.3%, especially if blood infected has touched the same needle in the case of tattooing. This helps demonstrate the relevance of proper infection control precautions, for instance the disposal of needles immediately after use to avoid all manner of blood-borne transmissions. 

Essential Precautions to Avoid Infection

According to Chief Medical Superintendent (CMS) at the women's hospital, Dr. Alka Sharma, HIV and hepatitis are spread mainly through blood-to-blood contact; the virus can cause infection if infected blood comes into direct contact with open wounds or when the same needles are used repeatedly. Hence, she underlined that tattoo artists need safe practices, using fresh, clean needles on every client, to avoid infections unnecessarily.

The discovery made by the hospital is a reminder of the risks associated with unsanitary tattooing practices, hence the importance of safe procedures. Authorities recommend that persons should seek the services of licensed professionals who observe strict hygiene standards to minimize the risk of infection.  

Also Read: HIV Infection Risk In Ghaziabad , 68 Women Contract AIDS from Tattoos