Abstract
Aims: To investigate skin lesions associated with or aggravated by sun exposure in community health workers in two municipalities in the metropolitan region of Belém, State of Pará, Brazil, relating the lesions to some sociodemographic variables, and to assess the use of sun protection.Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out with 11 Family Health Centers in Belém and Ananindeua selected by non-probabilistic convenience sampling. All workers answered a questionnaire and were clinically examined for the presence of skin lesions caused by sun exposure, in addition to having sun exposure variables and their sociodemographic profile assessed. The data were analyzed by the chi-square test, Fisher’s exact test with Yates’ correction, and Student’s t test. A p value ≤ 0.05 was considered to be statistically significant. Results: A total of 83 workers were assessed, most of whom were female (75.9%), aged between 30 and 40 years (44.6%), single (47%), with completed high school education (69.8%), and family income between 1 and 2 minimum wages (67.5%), working in the profession for over 10 years (48.2%). Among the respondents, 83% reported daily sun exposure in their working activity, 47% were exposed for more than four hours, and 73.5% were exposed to the sun at the most critical time (between 10 and 4 o’clock). 56.6% used some kind of protection against sun exposure, and 27.7% reported using sunscreen on a daily basis. The dermatologic evaluation also revealed that 97.6% of workers had many skin lesions caused by sun exposure. Melanosis was the most common diagnosis.Conclusions: Skin lesions were frequent among community health workers and sun exposure during working hours appears to have played a remarkable role. Workers showed difficulty adopting protective behaviors. Occupational health policies and actions targeted at the prevention of aggravating factors among community health workers should be encouraged.
Highlights
Ananindeua selected by non-probabilistic convenience sampling
for the presence of skin lesions caused by sun exposure
The data were analyzed by the chi-square test
Summary
Fernando Costa Araújo , Bruna Ranyelle de Marinho Sousa, Glereston Gomes Leite, Leidian Coelho de Freitas, Edna Lamar da Costa Lemos, Carla Andrea Avelar Pires. Objetivos: Investigar lesões de pele relacionadas ou agravadas com a exposição solar em agentes comunitários de saúde de dois municípios da região metropolitana de Belém, estado do Pará, relacionando-as com algumas variáveis sociodemográficas, e avaliar o uso de proteção à exposição solar. Métodos: O delineamento adotado foi um estudo transversal, incluindo agentes de saúde de 11 Unidades Saúde da Família de Belém e Ananindeua selecionados por amostra não probabilística de conveniência. Todos os indivíduos responderam a um questionário e foram submetidos a uma consulta dermatológica que avaliou presença de lesões de pele e variáveis relacionadas à fotoexposição e perfil sociodemográfico dos trabalhadores. Alguma alteração de pele relacionada à exposição solar foi encontrada em 81 (97,6%) trabalhadores. Conclusões: Lesões de pele foram frequentes nesta amostra de agentes comunitários de saúde, e a exposição solar laboral parece ter tido um impacto significativo na sua ocorrência. DESCRITORES: saúde do trabalhador; dermatologia; protetores solares; medicina de família e comunidade
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