Parental use of sun protection for their children-does skin color matter?

Abstract

Excessive sun exposure during childhood is a risk factor for skin cancer. This study aimed to compare the frequency of ideal sun protection use between parents with lighter- and darker-skinned children and explore their attitudes and beliefs on sun safety and their choice of sun protection. Parents of children aged 6months to 6years completed self-administered questionnaires about sun protection practices for their children. Parents assessed their child's Fitzpatrick phototype and were divided into lighter- (Fitzpatrick phototype I-III) and darker-skinned (Fitzpatrick phototype IV-VI) groups. Sun safety guidelines from the Canadian Dermatology Association were used to qualify ideal sun protection. A total of 183 parents were included. Overall, 31 parents (17%) used ideal sun protection for their children. As their children grew older, parents were less likely to use ideal sun protection (odds ratio=0.69, 95% confidence interval=0.53-0.90). Parents in the lighter-skinned group were more likely to use ideal sun protection for their children (odds ratio=7.4, 95% confidence interval=2.7-20.1), believe that sun exposure was harmful (odds ratio=17.2, 95% confidence interval=4.0-74.9), and perceive value in sun protection (odds ratio=11.4, 95% confidence interval=3.3-39.0); the darker-skinned group believed that darker skin tones provided more sun protection (odds ratio=12.4, 95% confidence interval=6.1-25.4). Ideal parental sun protection efforts are overall low, particularly in parents of darker-skinned children. The identified attitudes toward and beliefs about sun safety may aid in delivery of future sun protection interventions, especially in multiracial populations.