Sun exposure behavior and knowledge on photoprotection of children and adolescents living in tropical regions

Abstract

Background: Excessive and continuous exposure to ultraviolet radiation (UVR) can cause skin cancer (SC), photoaging, and cataracts. Photoprotection (PhP) is the most important tool in preventing against these harmful effects. Elementary and high school students should be targeted in PhP campaigns because the solar radiation that youngers receive increases the risk of SC in adulthood. However, PhP policies are scarce in developing countries. Objectives: To evaluate the use and knowledge of PhP with youngsters living in tropical regions. Methods: 2,844 students aged from 4 to 20 years-old were interviewed about their knowledge on sun exposure and PhP habits. Age, sex, family income and skin phototype were statistically related to the proposed questions. Results: Brazilian youngsters do not have the habit of wearing long-sleeved clothing (<15% in summer), nor sunglasses (0.0%), and hats (2.1%). More than 40% had no knowledge about UVI while another 30% misinterpret what it is. Less than half of all students wear sunscreen when out in the sun. Despite this low PhP use-rate, more than 90% know that UVR causes SC. Income was the factor that showed the greatest number of significant relationships respect to PhP. Conclusions: Children and adolescents showed little knowledge about the sun exposure effects and lack PhP use. The lack of educational programs predisposes these youngsters to an increased chance of SC in the future. These results suggest that PhP campaigns should be part of school curricula from elementary school onwards.

Knowledge and the behavioral patterns of photoprotection among Koreans with skin disease

“…We found that a higher percentage of male participants reported not making any effort to avoid sunlight, despite experiencing longer sun exposure time in their daily lives, consistent with previous studies. [28][29][30] Additionally, males scored lower levels of photoprotection knowledge and reported using sunscreen less compared to females, which may be related to the higher incidence of skin cancer in males. 3,5 In contrast, female participants were more likely to use all types of photoprotective measures, including wearing hats and long-sleeved clothes, using parasols, and applying sunscreen.…”