Sun-Protective Behaviors of California Farmworkers

• Published in: Journal of occupational and environmental medicine Vol. 47; no. 12; pp. 1244 - 1249
• Main Authors: Salas, Ricardo, Mayer, Joni A., Hoerster, Katherine D.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Hagerstown, MD Lippincott Williams & Wilkins 01-12-2005; The American College of Occupational and Environmental Medicine; Lippincott Williams & Wilkins Ovid Technologies
• Subjects: Biological and medical sciences; Biological effects of radiation; Farmworkers; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Health behavior; Medical research; Non ionizing radiations. Hertzian waves. Biooptics; ORIGINAL ARTICLES; Protective clothing; Sun; Tissues, organs and organisms biophysics; California; United States; North America; America; San Joaquin Valley; USA, California, San Joaquin Valley; Human; Prevention; Ultraviolet radiation; Rural environment; Behavior; Farmer; Occupational exposure; Solar radiation; Sun; Occupational medicine
• ISSN: 1076-2752; 1536-5948
• DOI: 10.1097/01.jom.0000177080.58808.3b

Objective: Farmworkers are exposed to long hours of solar ultraviolet radiation (UVR), placing them at higher risk for skin cancer. The goal of this study was to evaluate farmworkers' sun exposure behaviors. Methods: Farmworkers (n = 326) in the San Joaquin Valley of California were interviewed about their sun protective behaviors; these behaviors also were observed directly and these data were used to assess whether participants adequately protected against UVR exposure. Results: All participants were Latino men with a mean age of 33 years. Although rates of wearing any hat and long-sleeved shirts were high, rates of wearing wide-brimmed hats and sunscreen were low. Conclusions: This study is important because there is limited research focused on farmworkers' protective behaviors against UVR exposure. Interventions to improve sun protection behaviors of farmworkers are needed.