Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health
Volume 38, Issue 6, 2014, Pages 513-517

Varying sun protection of young children by migrant and Australian-born mothers (Article)

Scheltinga F. , Shibl R. , Green A.C. , Ng S.-K. , Scuffham P.A. , Cameron C.M.*
  • a Athena Institute, Free University of Amsterdam, Netherlands
  • b Faculty of Business, Queensland University of Technology, Australia
  • c QIMR Berghofer Medical Research InstituteQLD, Australia
  • d Centre of National Research on Disability and Rehabilitation, School of Human Services and Social Work, Griffith University, University Drive, Meadowbrook, QLD 4131, Australia
  • e Centre of National Research on Disability and Rehabilitation, School of Human Services and Social Work, Griffith University, University Drive, Meadowbrook, QLD 4131, Australia
  • f Centre of National Research on Disability and Rehabilitation, School of Human Services and Social Work, Griffith University, University Drive, Meadowbrook, QLD 4131, Australia

Abstract

Objective: To compare sun protection by Australian-born and migrant mothers of three-year-old children. Methods: Australian-born and migrant mothers taking part in the Environments for Healthy Living prospective birth-cohort study were asked standard questions about their child's sun protection. Children were given a skin cancer susceptibility score based on grandparents' ethnic origin. Logistic regression was used to estimate odds ratios (ORs) to measure the association of sun protection of children according to mothers' migrant status adjusted for socio-demographic characteristics. Results: A total of 613 Australian-born and 224 migrant mothers of three-year-old children were studied. Mothers who had migrated less than four years ago were more likely to allow their three-year-old to spend more than two hours outdoors between 10 am and 3 pm compared to Australian-born mothers (OR=2.80, 95%CI 1.20-6.57). Mothers from high latitude countries (>45 degrees) were more likely to apply sunscreen to their child than those from lower latitude countries (OR=3.15, 95%CI 1.03-9.61). Conclusions and implications: Strategies should aim to increase general awareness about the need for sun protection of young children, and recent migrants should be alerted to the harms of excessive sun exposure. © 2014 Public Health Association of Australia.

Author Keywords

Migrant mothers Young children sun protection behaviour

Index Keywords

prospective study Australia Prospective Studies human Health Behavior statistics and numerical data Logistic Models Humans male preschool child Socioeconomic Factors female Child, Preschool socioeconomics Mothers Skin Neoplasms Sunburn mother migration statistical model Transients and Migrants sunscreen Sunscreening Agents Child
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-84913609197&doi=10.1111%2f1753-6405.12272&partnerID=40&md5=ed13795415d06f8fc351eb329ede66c3
DOI: 10.1111/1753-6405.12272
ISSN: 13260200
Cited by: 1
Original Language: English