Sun protection behaviors among married women of Yazd, Iran

Background: Skin cancer is the most prevalent malignancy in Iran and sun protection behaviors are the most essential strategy for its preventing.

Objectives: In this study the prevalence of sun protection behaviors and its related factors were assessed among married women in Yazd, Iran. Health Belief Model (HBM) was used for determination of related factors to sun protection behaviors in this cross-sectional study.

Material and methods: Total number of 300 married women entered in the study with a clustered random sampling. A valid questionaire was used for data collection. The studied behaviors in this study included usage of sunscreens, physical barriers and sunglasses, limiting outdoor staying time and walking in shadow at the time of maximum sunlight.

Results: Prevalence of shadow walking was 94% , limiting of outdoor staying time was 53%, usage of sunscreen, sunglasses and physical barriers were 15.8%, 11.6%, 3.4% respectively. Sunscreen usage behavior had a significant correlation with direct physician advise (OR= 7.8, CI: 3.6-17.0) and perceived benefits (OR=1.8, CI: 1.2-2.6). Limiting Outdoor staying time behavior had a significant correlation with perceived benefit . Income rate , perceived susceptibility and cultural inhibitors had significant correlations with physical barriers. Also sunglasses usage had significant correlation with perceived benefit. Moreover, sun protection behaviors status was significantly correlated with perceived benefit and susceptibility.(P-value=5%)

Conclusion: This study has shown that sun protection behaviors in married women that have an essential role in family health behaviors, have been correlated with educational ,cultural and socioeconomic factors.Governmental support and appropriate policy making for promotion of these behaviors in the community is necessary.

Key Words: Sunlight, Health Behavior, Health Belief Model