Skin-lightening practices among shoppers in select markets in Kumasi, Ghana: A cross-sectional surveyCapsule Summary
Background: Despite warnings about its harmful adverse effects and the implementation of regulatory bans, anecdotal reports suggest high use of skin-lightening agents in Kumasi, Ghana. Objective: To estimate the prevalence and motivation for skin-lightening agent use and nonuse among shoppers in Kum...
| Main Authors: | , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Elsevier
2020-12-01
|
| Series: | JAAD International |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666328720300250 |
| _version_ | 1818573231916843008 |
|---|---|
| author | Mariah Owusu-Agyei, BA Martin Agyei, MD Temitayo A. Ogunleye, MD |
| author_facet | Mariah Owusu-Agyei, BA Martin Agyei, MD Temitayo A. Ogunleye, MD |
| author_sort | Mariah Owusu-Agyei, BA |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Background: Despite warnings about its harmful adverse effects and the implementation of regulatory bans, anecdotal reports suggest high use of skin-lightening agents in Kumasi, Ghana. Objective: To estimate the prevalence and motivation for skin-lightening agent use and nonuse among shoppers in Kumasi, Ghana. Methods: This is a cross-sectional survey of a convenience sample of shoppers in 3 of Kumasi's largest markets. Results: Of the 350 shoppers who were approached, 334 consented, for a response rate of 95%. Data were analyzed on 331 completed surveys. A total of 40.4% of individuals reported current or past use of skin-lightening products, and 26.6% of men reported history of product use compared with 56.5% of women. Female sex was significantly associated with skin-lightening product use (odds ratio 3.59; 95% confidence interval 2.26-5.70). Users of skin-lightening agents were more likely to agree with statements that associated lighter skin with beauty, self-esteem, attractiveness, and wealth. Limitations: Using a nonrandomized convenience sampling method on a single city limits the generalizability of the results. Response, recall, and social desirability biases may have skewed the results, especially given the stigma associated with skin-lightening agent use. Conclusion: The practice of skin lightening among all participants is high and is associated with perceptions of increased beauty, attractiveness, self-esteem, and wealth. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-15T00:08:26Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-949b6b4966eb4415b151a2b99c5bbd61 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2666-3287 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-15T00:08:26Z |
| publishDate | 2020-12-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | JAAD International |
| spelling | doaj.art-949b6b4966eb4415b151a2b99c5bbd612022-12-21T22:42:40ZengElsevierJAAD International2666-32872020-12-0112104110Skin-lightening practices among shoppers in select markets in Kumasi, Ghana: A cross-sectional surveyCapsule SummaryMariah Owusu-Agyei, BA0Martin Agyei, MD1Temitayo A. Ogunleye, MD2Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Correspondence to: Mariah Owusu-Agyei, BA, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Jordan Medical Education Center, 6th Floor PCAM South Extension, 3400 Civic Center Blvd, Bldg 421, Philadelphia, PA 19104-5162.Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, GhanaDepartment of Dermatology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PennsylvaniaBackground: Despite warnings about its harmful adverse effects and the implementation of regulatory bans, anecdotal reports suggest high use of skin-lightening agents in Kumasi, Ghana. Objective: To estimate the prevalence and motivation for skin-lightening agent use and nonuse among shoppers in Kumasi, Ghana. Methods: This is a cross-sectional survey of a convenience sample of shoppers in 3 of Kumasi's largest markets. Results: Of the 350 shoppers who were approached, 334 consented, for a response rate of 95%. Data were analyzed on 331 completed surveys. A total of 40.4% of individuals reported current or past use of skin-lightening products, and 26.6% of men reported history of product use compared with 56.5% of women. Female sex was significantly associated with skin-lightening product use (odds ratio 3.59; 95% confidence interval 2.26-5.70). Users of skin-lightening agents were more likely to agree with statements that associated lighter skin with beauty, self-esteem, attractiveness, and wealth. Limitations: Using a nonrandomized convenience sampling method on a single city limits the generalizability of the results. Response, recall, and social desirability biases may have skewed the results, especially given the stigma associated with skin-lightening agent use. Conclusion: The practice of skin lightening among all participants is high and is associated with perceptions of increased beauty, attractiveness, self-esteem, and wealth.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666328720300250African healthblack skindark skinskin bleachingskin lighteningskin of color |
| spellingShingle | Mariah Owusu-Agyei, BA Martin Agyei, MD Temitayo A. Ogunleye, MD Skin-lightening practices among shoppers in select markets in Kumasi, Ghana: A cross-sectional surveyCapsule Summary JAAD International African health black skin dark skin skin bleaching skin lightening skin of color |
| title | Skin-lightening practices among shoppers in select markets in Kumasi, Ghana: A cross-sectional surveyCapsule Summary |
| title_full | Skin-lightening practices among shoppers in select markets in Kumasi, Ghana: A cross-sectional surveyCapsule Summary |
| title_fullStr | Skin-lightening practices among shoppers in select markets in Kumasi, Ghana: A cross-sectional surveyCapsule Summary |
| title_full_unstemmed | Skin-lightening practices among shoppers in select markets in Kumasi, Ghana: A cross-sectional surveyCapsule Summary |
| title_short | Skin-lightening practices among shoppers in select markets in Kumasi, Ghana: A cross-sectional surveyCapsule Summary |
| title_sort | skin lightening practices among shoppers in select markets in kumasi ghana a cross sectional surveycapsule summary |
| topic | African health black skin dark skin skin bleaching skin lightening skin of color |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666328720300250 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT mariahowusuagyeiba skinlighteningpracticesamongshoppersinselectmarketsinkumasighanaacrosssectionalsurveycapsulesummary AT martinagyeimd skinlighteningpracticesamongshoppersinselectmarketsinkumasighanaacrosssectionalsurveycapsulesummary AT temitayoaogunleyemd skinlighteningpracticesamongshoppersinselectmarketsinkumasighanaacrosssectionalsurveycapsulesummary |