NIOSHTIC-2 Publications Search

Sun protection behaviors among Latino migrant farmworkers in eastern North Carolina.

Kearney GD; Phillips C; Allen DL; Nurtado GA; Hsia L-LB

J Occup Environ Med 2014 Dec; 56(12):1325-1331

https://doi.org/10.1097/jom.0000000000000275

20045448

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.

Farmers; Workers; Work-environment; Agriculture; Agricultural-workers; Sociological-factors; Demographic-characteristics; Cancer; Skin-cancer; Behavior; Exposure-levels; Skin-protection; Sunburns; Sunscreening-agents; Humans; Men; Ultraviolet-radiation; Racial-factors

Gregory D. Kearney, DrPH, MPH, Department of Public Health, Brody School of Medicine, East Carolina University, 600 Moye Blvd, MS 660, Lakeside Annex #8, Greenville, NC 27834

JOEMFM

20141201

Journal Article

kearneyg@ecu.edu

Cooperative Agreement; Agriculture

2015

Cooperative-Agreement-Number-U54-OH-007547; M122014

12

1076-2752

Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing

Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine

KY; NC

University of Kentucky