Health Education Research, Vol. 17, No. 4, 405-414,
August 2002
© 2002 Oxford University Press
Behavior of caregivers to protect their infants from exposure to the sun in Queensland, Australia
Centre for Health Promotion and Cancer Prevention Research, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Queensland, Herston, Queensland 4006 and 1 Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, University of Queensland, Mater Hospital, South Brisbane, Queensland 4101, Australia
Exposure to the sun by infants has been demonstrated to increase the risk of the development of melanoma and other skin cancers later in life. A cohort of 508 women who delivered healthy Caucasian babies were followed up at 1 year to determine their knowledge, attitudes and practices regarding sun protection towards themselves and their child. In addition, the 1-year-old infants were assessed by a trained nurse for the number of nevi they had on their skin. Results indicate caregivers reported a high level of sun-protection practices towards their child, with 93% of the caregivers reporting usually or always placing the child in the shade when going outside. Further, 81% of the caregivers reported usually or always placing a hat on the child, while 64% reported usually or always applying sunscreen to the childs exposed skin. Interestingly, only 61% of the caregivers reported that they stayed in the shade to reduce sun exposure and only 42% wore a hat when out in the sun. Mothers own personal sun-protection methods predicted the method of sun protection that she would most likely use for the child. While children appear to be reasonably protected from the sun, they are influenced by their mothers own behaviors.
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