Sun-Protective Behaviors of California Farmworkers

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.