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Children's understanding of sun protection behaviours: a comparative analysis
J Morris1, M Bandaranayake, R McGee
1Department of Preventive and Social Medicine, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand.
Objective:
To investigate awareness of sun protection behaviours in a sample of primary school children in New Zealand.
Methodology:
Information was collected from 824 primary school children in New Zealand using a drawing and writing technique.
Results:
The data revealed a bias towards sunscreen as a method of sun protection compared with other methods such as clothing and the use of shade. Comparisons between results obtained from children resident in Australia and England indicated a greater awareness of sun protection methods amongst the children from Australia and New Zealand compared with those children living in England.
Conclusions:
Children as young as 5 and 6 can describe the consequences of overexposure to the sun, and can illustrate methods of sun protection. Sunscreen is seen as the main method of sun protection.