PDF(Pubmed)
Abstract：
Sun safety research has mainly been conducted in the West, whereas little is known about sun protection practices in India. Using a survey design with a representative sample, we aimed to understand the frequency of sun protection practices in India. We also examined associations between demographic covariates and sun safe behaviours. We surveyed a representative sample (N = 1560) from the Indian population in November 2022. The study variables included sun safe behaviours, sunburn experience, demographic information, and skin tone. We employed descriptive and regression analyses to examine the prevalence of behaviours and their associations. To mitigate potential sampling biases, we applied poststratification weights in the analyses. More than half of the participants (64.2%) routinely performed at least one sun safe behaviour, with only 4.9% of the sample reporting no engagement with sun safe behaviours in the last 12 months. Physical protection (e.g., long sleeves, shade/umbrella) were more common than sunscreen use. Regression analysis showed that higher subjective social status, being younger, and living in one of the Eastern Indian states were the strongest predictors of sun protection practices. Our findings fill an important knowledge gap in global sun safe research, highlighting the urgent need for public sun safety education. Scalable and targeted interventions are needed to promote sun safety awareness and practices among people.
摘要：
太阳安全研究主要在西方进行，而印度对防晒措施知之甚少。使用具有代表性样本的调查设计，我们的目的是了解印度防晒措施的频率。我们还研究了人口统计学协变量与阳光安全行为之间的关联。我们在2022年11月调查了来自印度人口的代表性样本(N=1560)。研究变量包括阳光安全行为，晒伤经验,人口统计信息,和肤色。我们采用描述性和回归分析来检查行为的患病率及其关联。为了减轻潜在的采样偏差，我们在分析中应用了分层后的权重。超过一半的参与者（64.2%）经常进行至少一种防晒行为，在过去的12个月中，只有4.9%的样本报告没有参与阳光安全行为。物理保护(例如，长袖,遮阳/雨伞)比防晒霜使用更常见。回归分析表明,较高的主观社会地位,更年轻,生活在印度东部的一个州是防晒措施的最强预测因素。我们的发现填补了全球阳光安全研究的重要知识空白，突出公共阳光安全教育的迫切需要。需要可扩展和有针对性的干预措施，以促进人们的阳光安全意识和实践。
