Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine
Volume 56, Issue 12, 2014, Pages 1325-1331

Sun protection behaviors among Latino migrant farmworkers in eastern North Carolina (Article)

Kearney G.D.* , Phillips C. , Allen D.L. , Hurtado G.A. , Bob Hsia L.-L.
  • a Department of Public Health, Brody School of Medicine, East Carolina University, 600 Moye Blvd, Lakeside Annex #8, Greenville, NC 27834, United States
  • b Department of Internal Medicine, Brody School of Medicine, East Carolina University, Greenville, United States
  • c Department of Public Health, Brody School of Medicine, East Carolina University, 600 Moye Blvd, Lakeside Annex #8, Greenville, NC 27834, United States
  • d Community Outreach, Snow Hill, Green County Health Care, Inc, United States
  • e Dermatology Resident, Vidant Medical Center, Greenville, NC, United States

Abstract

Objective: Farmworkers are at an increased risk of skin cancer from exposure to excessive amounts of ultraviolet radiation from the sun. The primary objective of this study was to evaluate sun protection behaviors.Methods: A cross-sectional study of Latino farmworkers in eastern North Carolina was conducted using personal interviews followed by a full-body examination for skin cancers (N = 157).Results: Participants were predominately, young, males from Mexico who spent 9 or more hours each work day in the sun. Most reported wearing long sleeved shirts (85.7%) and long pants (98.0%). Few workers rarely used sunscreen (90.8%) or wore sunglasses (87.4%). Skin cancers were not identified among workers.Conclusions: In general, farmworkers lack sufficient information and knowledge about the risks of skin cancer from the sun. Interventions for reducing excessive ultraviolet radiation exposures are warranted. © 2014 Lippincott Williams and Wilkins. Unauthorized reproduction of this article is prohibited.

Author Keywords

[No Keywords available]

Index Keywords

ultraviolet radiation sweet potato seborrheic keratosis sunglasses actinic keratosis growing season sunlight protection basal cell melanoma squamous cell melanoma insect bite skin hemangioma sun agricultural worker human skin examination melanoma Mexico interview United States cross-sectional study migrant Hispanic male occupational exposure Mexican tobacco sun exposure pesticide eczema scar Article Sunburn major clinical study adult radiation exposure skin cancer sunscreen acne
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-84918571804&doi=10.1097%2fJOM.0000000000000275&partnerID=40&md5=c48695cd76222917581d70030f1838c8
DOI: 10.1097/JOM.0000000000000275
ISSN: 10762752
Cited by: 11
Original Language: English