Abstract
The aim of this study was to investigate the sun protection use behaviour among university students from 25 low, middle income and emerging economy countries. Using anonymous questionnaires, data were collected from 18,687 undergraduate university students aged 18-30 years (mean age 20.8, SD=2.8) from 26 universities in 25 countries across Asia, Africa and the Americas. Overall, 57.2% of university students reported liking to sunbathe and of those only 48.1% used sun protection when sunbathing. In multivariate logistic regression, younger age, being female, coming from a wealthy or quite well off economic family background, living in an upper middle or high income country, lighter skin tone, and other health behaviours were found to be associated with sun protection use behaviour. Low sun protection use calls for health promotion programmes to prevent unprotected sun exposure.
Highlights
Over the past decades the incidence of both nonmelanoma and melanoma skin cancers has been increasing (Kozma and Eide, 2014; WHO, 2014)
The prevalence of sun protection use when sunbathing was higher in females than males in most study countries, in particular in Turkey and India
The study found, among a large sample of university students across 25 low and middle and emerging economy countries, an overall low rate of sun protection use behaviour, which is comparable with several previous studies (Al-Naggar et al, 2013; Nanakorn et al, 1999), but lower than in a few studies in high income countries (Jerkegren et al, 1999; Peacey et al, 2006)
Summary
Over the past decades the incidence of both nonmelanoma and melanoma skin cancers has been increasing (Kozma and Eide, 2014; WHO, 2014). It is estimated that a 10 percent decrease in ozone levels will result in an additional 300,000 non-melanoma and 4,500 melanoma skin cancer cases. The global incidence of melanoma continues to increase - the main factors that predispose to the development of melanoma seem to be connected with recreational exposure to the sun and a history of sunburn. These factors lie within each individual’s own responsibility.”
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