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Volume 38, Issue 3 , Pages 288-295, March 2010

Sun-Protection Behaviors Among African Americans

Latrice C. Pichon, PhD
- Department of Health Management and Policy, School of Public Health, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan
- Address correspondence and reprint requests to: Latrice C. Pichon, PhD, Department of Health Management and Policy, School of Public Health, University of Michigan, 109 Observatory M3242, Ann Arbor MI 48109-2029
Irma Corral, PhD
- Behavioral Research Center, American Cancer Society, Atlanta, Georgia
Hope Landrine, PhD
- Behavioral Research Center, American Cancer Society, Atlanta, Georgia
Joni A. Mayer, PhD
- Graduate School of Public Health, San Diego State University, San Diego, California
Gregory J. Norman, PhD
- Department of Family and Preventive Medicine, University of California, San Diego, San Diego, California

Background

Data suggest that the prevalence of sun-protection behaviors is low (44%) among African Americans; the samples in such studies, however, tended to be small or nonrepresentative.

Purpose

This article aims to examine the prevalence and correlates of sun-protection behaviors among a large, random, statewide sample of African-American adults living in California to ascertain behavioral patterns and highlight directions for targeted interventions.

Methods

From September 2006 through May 2008, an anonymous health survey collected data on sunscreen, sunglasses, and wide-brim hat use among a random sample of 2187 African-American adults, and assessed demographic, regional, skin type, and other potential correlates of these behaviors. The analysis was conducted in 2009.

Results

Only 31% engaged in at least one sun-protection behavior; of the three behaviors, sunscreen use was the least prevalent, with 63% never using sunscreen. Multivariate logistic regressions revealed that gender, SES, and skin type were significant predictors of sun-protection behaviors.