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  • Title: Children's sun exposure and sun protection: prevalence in Australia and related parental factors.
    Author: Dobbinson S, Wakefield M, Hill D, Girgis A, Aitken JF, Beckmann K, Reeder AI, Herd N, Spittal MJ, Fairthorne A, Bowles KA.
    Journal: J Am Acad Dermatol; 2012 Jun; 66(6):938-47. PubMed ID: 21890234.
    Abstract:
    BACKGROUND: Reducing childhood exposure to ultraviolet radiation is important to minimize lifetime skin cancer risk. OBJECTIVES: We sought to describe the prevalence of children's sun-related behaviors and associated parental and other factors. METHODS: In weekly cross-sectional telephone interviews during summer, 1140 parents/guardians of children aged 0 to 11 years were recruited. Parents provided proxy reports for one of their children. Key questions related to weekend sun protection and sunburn, parent's sun-related attitudes, and demographic characteristics. Potential predictors of children's sun protection and sunburn were analyzed adjusting for covariates including weather conditions on the previous weekend. RESULTS: On summer weekends, 73% of children spent longer than 15 minutes outdoors in peak ultraviolet radiation periods. Of these, 64% were protected by a hat and 58% by sun-protection factor 15 or higher sunscreen, 32% stayed under shade, and 18% wore three-quarter or long-sleeved tops. Overall, 8% of children had sunburn. Parental attitudes were typically supportive of children's sun protection. Parental use of hats (odds ratio [OR] 3.1; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.6-6.2), shade (OR 9.6; 95% CI 4.4-20.8), sunscreen (OR 12.6; 95% CI 5.2-30.4), longer leg cover (OR 10.3; 95% CI 4.4-24.0), and two or more protective behaviors (OR 5.7; 95% CI 2.8-11.9) increased the odds of their children practicing these behaviors, as did some parental attitudes. LIMITATIONS: We relied on cross-sectional parent reports. CONCLUSION: Although children's sun protection was favorable, there was room for improvement. Health promotion to improve sun-protection practices in adults may benefit children's sun-safe behaviors.
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