Sun Protection and Sunburn in Children Aged 1–10 Years in Germany: Prevalence and Determinants
Seeking shade, the use of textile sun protection and sunscreen, and protecting one’s eyes by wearing sunglasses are recommended sun protection measures in children. We aimed to quantify the use of these measures as well as the prevalence of sunburn in children aged 1 to 10 years in Germany and to id...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
MDPI AG
2021-07-01
|
| Series: | Children |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9067/8/8/668 |
| _version_ | 1827685608680587264 |
|---|---|
| author | Tatiana Görig Corinna Södel Annette B. Pfahlberg Olaf Gefeller Eckhard W. Breitbart Katharina Diehl |
| author_facet | Tatiana Görig Corinna Södel Annette B. Pfahlberg Olaf Gefeller Eckhard W. Breitbart Katharina Diehl |
| author_sort | Tatiana Görig |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Seeking shade, the use of textile sun protection and sunscreen, and protecting one’s eyes by wearing sunglasses are recommended sun protection measures in children. We aimed to quantify the use of these measures as well as the prevalence of sunburn in children aged 1 to 10 years in Germany and to identify their determinants. Data collected via telephone interviews in a nationwide sample of 554 parents or caregivers in family were analyzed. Use of sunscreen was the most common measure applied (77.8%), while sunglasses were least frequently used (12.5%). The prevalence of sunburn during the past year was 21.8%, and it was positively associated with children’s age. The use of sun protection measures was significantly associated with the age and skin color of the child, while characteristics and tanning behaviors of the caregivers only played a minor role. The use of sun protection measures was higher when caregivers perceived themselves as a role model (Odds Ratio (OR) = 4.33, <i>p</i> < 0.001). Our nationwide data show that there remains a need for the improved use of sun protection measures, especially in children aged 7 to 10 years. In educational material, parents should be encouraged to become positive role models for their children regarding sun protection. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T08:55:01Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-ebb7e4428a1741f8ac948d8ed57ce36d |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2227-9067 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T08:55:01Z |
| publishDate | 2021-07-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Children |
| spelling | doaj.art-ebb7e4428a1741f8ac948d8ed57ce36d2023-11-22T07:14:11ZengMDPI AGChildren2227-90672021-07-018866810.3390/children8080668Sun Protection and Sunburn in Children Aged 1–10 Years in Germany: Prevalence and DeterminantsTatiana Görig0Corinna Södel1Annette B. Pfahlberg2Olaf Gefeller3Eckhard W. Breitbart4Katharina Diehl5Mannheim Institute of Public Health, Social and Preventive Medicine, Mannheim Medical Faculty, Heidelberg University, 68167 Mannheim, GermanyMannheim Institute of Public Health, Social and Preventive Medicine, Mannheim Medical Faculty, Heidelberg University, 68167 Mannheim, GermanyDepartment of Medical Informatics, Biometry and Epidemiology, Friedrich-Alexander-University of Erlangen-Nuremberg, 91054 Erlangen, GermanyDepartment of Medical Informatics, Biometry and Epidemiology, Friedrich-Alexander-University of Erlangen-Nuremberg, 91054 Erlangen, GermanyAssociation of Dermatological Prevention, 20457 Hamburg, GermanyMannheim Institute of Public Health, Social and Preventive Medicine, Mannheim Medical Faculty, Heidelberg University, 68167 Mannheim, GermanySeeking shade, the use of textile sun protection and sunscreen, and protecting one’s eyes by wearing sunglasses are recommended sun protection measures in children. We aimed to quantify the use of these measures as well as the prevalence of sunburn in children aged 1 to 10 years in Germany and to identify their determinants. Data collected via telephone interviews in a nationwide sample of 554 parents or caregivers in family were analyzed. Use of sunscreen was the most common measure applied (77.8%), while sunglasses were least frequently used (12.5%). The prevalence of sunburn during the past year was 21.8%, and it was positively associated with children’s age. The use of sun protection measures was significantly associated with the age and skin color of the child, while characteristics and tanning behaviors of the caregivers only played a minor role. The use of sun protection measures was higher when caregivers perceived themselves as a role model (Odds Ratio (OR) = 4.33, <i>p</i> < 0.001). Our nationwide data show that there remains a need for the improved use of sun protection measures, especially in children aged 7 to 10 years. In educational material, parents should be encouraged to become positive role models for their children regarding sun protection.https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9067/8/8/668sun protectionmeasuressunburnsunscreenchildrenrole model |
| spellingShingle | Tatiana Görig Corinna Södel Annette B. Pfahlberg Olaf Gefeller Eckhard W. Breitbart Katharina Diehl Sun Protection and Sunburn in Children Aged 1–10 Years in Germany: Prevalence and Determinants Children sun protection measures sunburn sunscreen children role model |
| title | Sun Protection and Sunburn in Children Aged 1–10 Years in Germany: Prevalence and Determinants |
| title_full | Sun Protection and Sunburn in Children Aged 1–10 Years in Germany: Prevalence and Determinants |
| title_fullStr | Sun Protection and Sunburn in Children Aged 1–10 Years in Germany: Prevalence and Determinants |
| title_full_unstemmed | Sun Protection and Sunburn in Children Aged 1–10 Years in Germany: Prevalence and Determinants |
| title_short | Sun Protection and Sunburn in Children Aged 1–10 Years in Germany: Prevalence and Determinants |
| title_sort | sun protection and sunburn in children aged 1 10 years in germany prevalence and determinants |
| topic | sun protection measures sunburn sunscreen children role model |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9067/8/8/668 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT tatianagorig sunprotectionandsunburninchildrenaged110yearsingermanyprevalenceanddeterminants AT corinnasodel sunprotectionandsunburninchildrenaged110yearsingermanyprevalenceanddeterminants AT annettebpfahlberg sunprotectionandsunburninchildrenaged110yearsingermanyprevalenceanddeterminants AT olafgefeller sunprotectionandsunburninchildrenaged110yearsingermanyprevalenceanddeterminants AT eckhardwbreitbart sunprotectionandsunburninchildrenaged110yearsingermanyprevalenceanddeterminants AT katharinadiehl sunprotectionandsunburninchildrenaged110yearsingermanyprevalenceanddeterminants |