Tattoo Removal as a Resettlement Service to Reduce Incarceration Among Mexican Migrants.
J Immigr Minor Health
; 22(1): 110-119, 2020 Feb.
Article
in En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-30810968
ABSTRACT
In Mexico, tattooed migrants face discrimination and are at high-risk of incarceration, thus, we assessed whether receiving laser tattoo removal affected the likelihood of incarceration. In 2015-2016, 89 adults ages ≥ 18 years with visible tattoos were recruited at a free-clinic to receive laser tattoo removal or assigned to the wait-list; all completed baseline and 6-month questionnaires. Overall, 97.8% of participants ever migrated to the USA. In multivariate analyses restricted to migrants (n = 87), those receiving laser tattoo removal [Adjusted Odds Ratio (AOR) 0.27, 95% CI 0.07-0.89] and possessing a Mexican Voting card (AOR 0.14; 95% CI 0.03-0.58) were significantly less likely than wait-list participants to be incarcerated at 6-months. Previously incarcerated participants were significantly more likely to be incarcerated at follow-up. Tattoo removal may reduce incarceration among Mexican migrants. Future studies can assess other health and social benefits of tattoo removal for migrants/deportees returning to Mexico.
Key words
Full text:
1
Database:
MEDLINE
Therapeutic Methods and Therapies TCIM:
Terapias_energeticas
Main subject:
Prisoners
/
Tattooing
/
Transients and Migrants
/
Mexican Americans
/
Low-Level Light Therapy
Country/Region as subject:
Mexico
Language:
En
Journal:
J Immigr Minor Health
Year:
2020
Type:
Article
Affiliation country:
United States