Sun Exposure, Sun-Related Symptoms, and Sun Protection Practices in an African Informal Traditional Medicines Market
Abstract
:1. Introduction
2. Materials and Methods
2.1. Study Site
2.2. Procedures
2.3. Questionnaire
2.4. Statistical Analyses
3. Results
3.1. Sample Description Including Self-Reported Health Outcomes
3.2. Sun Exposure, Sun-Related Symptoms, and Sun Protection Practices
3.3. Sun Exposure Symptoms and Pre-Existing Diseases
3.4. Sun Exposure Perceived as a Hazard and Use of Sun Protection
4. Discussion
5. Conclusions
Acknowledgments
Author Contributions
Conflicts of Interest
References
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All (n = 236) n (%) | Male (n = 95) n (%) | Female (n = 141) n (%) | Gender OR # (95% CI) | Overall Gender Difference p-Value | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Asthma | 16 (6.8) | 7 (7.4) | 9 (6.4) | 0.86 (0.31–2.39) | 0.768 |
Hypertension (high BP) | 20 (8.5) | 5 (5.3) | 15 (10.6) | 2.14 (0.75–6.11) | 0.146 |
Diabetes mellitus | 12 (5.1) | 3 (3.2) | 9 (6.4) | 2.09 (0.55–7.93) | 0.269 |
High cholesterol | 7 (3.0) | 1 (1.1) | 6 (4.3) | 4.18 (0.49–35.27) | 0.155 |
Obesity | 6 (2.5) | 2 (2.1) | 4 (2.8) | 1.36 (0.24–7.56) | 0.726 |
Heart disease | 5 (2.1) | 1 (1.1) | 4 (2.8) | 2.74 (0.3–24.94) | 0.351 |
Skin cancer | 0 (0.0) | 0 (0.0) | 0 (0.0) | - | - |
Lung cancer | 0 (0.0) | 0 (0.0) | 0 (0.0) | - | - |
Other cancer | 0 (0.0) | 0 (0.0) | 0 (0.0) | - | - |
Tuberculosis | 13 (5.5) | 5 (5.3) | 8 (5.7) | 1.08 (0.34–3.41) | 0.892 |
Cataracts | 9 (3.8) | 0 (0.0) | 9 (6.4) | - | - |
None of the above | 166 (70.3) | 76 (80.0) | 90 (63.8) | 0.44 (0.24–0.81) | 0.008 |
Question and Responses | All (n = 236) n (%) | Male (n = 95) n (%) | Female (n = 141) n (%) |
---|---|---|---|
1. Can you describe your workplace/trading area? * | |||
Full sun | 104 (44.0) | 50 (52.6) | 54 (38.2) |
Partly shaded | 100 (42.3) | 33 (34.7) | 67 (47.5) |
Full shade | 22 (9.3) | 12 (12.6) | 10 (7.0) |
Protection from rain | 19 (8.0) | 8 (8.4) | 11 (7.8) |
Windy | 97 (41.1) | 38 (40.0) | 59 (41.8) |
Closed room | 11 (4.6) | 9 (9.4) | 2 (1.4) |
Other @ | 44 (18.6) | 16 (16.8) | 28 (19.8) |
2. In your working day, are you mostly: | |||
Sitting | 151 (64.0) | 50 (52.6) | 101 (71.6) |
Standing | 54(22.9) | 35 (36.8) | 19 (13.4) |
Walking about | 14 (5.9) | 5 (5.2) | 9 (6.3) |
Other @ | 17 (7.2) | 5 (5.2) | 12 (8.5) |
3. Is sun exposure a hazard that you are exposed to during your work? * | |||
Yes | 134 (56.7) | 54 (56.8) | 80 (56.7) |
4. If you spend a lot of time in the sun does your skin change? | |||
Yes | 187 (79.2) | 73 (76.8) | 114 (80.8) |
No | 49 (20.8) | 22 (23.1) | 27 (19.1) |
5. Does your skin change? * | |||
Darker | 174 (73.7) | 71 (74.7) | 103 (73.0) |
Sore/sensitive | 24 (10.1) | 7 (7.3) | 17 (12.0) |
Other | 3 (1.2) | 0 (0.0) | 3 (2.1) |
6. Does light or glare from the sun bother your eyes sometimes? | |||
Yes | 141 (59.7) | 54 (56.8) | 87 (61.7) |
No | 95 (40.3) | 41 (43.1) | 54 (38.2) |
7. Is the skin colour on the inside of your upper arm: | |||
Black | 19 (8.1) | 9 (9.4) | 10 (7.0) |
Dark brown | 7 (3.0) | 4 (4.2) | 3 (2.1) |
Brown | 50 (21.2) | 22 (23.1) | 28 (19.8) |
Light brown | 116 (49.2) | 46 (48.4) | 70 (49.6) |
White | 44 (18.6) | 14 (14.7) | 30 (21.2) |
8. What symptoms do you face at work during the summer/hotter months due to heat? * | |||
Excessive sweating | 136 (57.6) | 61 (64.2) | 75 (53.1) |
Muscle cramps | 44 (18.6) | 12 (12.6) | 32 (22.6) |
Tiredness/weakness | 62 (26.2) | 19 (20.0) | 43 (30.4) |
Dizziness | 44 (18.6) | 18 (18.94) | 26 (18.4) |
Headache | 53 (22.4) | 17 (17.8) | 36 (25.5) |
Nausea/vomiting | 20 (8.4) | 6 (6.3) | 14 (9.9) |
Fainting | 1 (0.4) | 0 (0.0) | 1 (0.7) |
No symptoms experienced | 46 (19.4) | 18 (18.9) | 28 (19.8) |
Other | 2 (0.8) | 1 (1.0) | 1 (0.7) |
9. While you were working at Warwick, do you ever use any of the following for sun protection? * | |||
Hat | 89 (37.7) | 45 (47.3) | 44 (31.2) |
Sunglasses | 4 (1.6) | 2 (2.1) | 2 (1.4) |
Shade (umbrella, gazebo, awning, tree, trading stall) | 165 (69.9) | 72 (75.7) | 93 (65.9) |
Sunscreen | 2 (0.8) | 2 (2.1) | 0 (0.0) |
Long-sleeve clothing with the purpose of blocking the sun from your skin | 70 (29.6) | 24 (25.6) | 46 (32.6) |
Traditional clay (relate to recent paper on clays) | 73 (30.9) | 0 (0.0) | 73 (51.6) |
Other | 8 (3.3) | 1 (1.0) | 7 (4.9) |
10. Do you drink more liquids during the summer months? | |||
Yes | 236 (100.0) | 95 (100.0) | 141 (100.0) |
No | 0 (0.0) | 0 (0.0) | 0 (0.0) |
Sun Exposure-Related Symptom | Total n (%) | No Pre-Existing Disease n (%) | Any Pre-Existing Disease n (%) | Odds Ratio (95% Cl) | p-Value |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Excessive sweating | 136 (57.6) | 98 (59.4) | 38 (53.5) | 0.79 (0.45–1.38) | 0.403 |
Muscle cramps | 44 (18.6) | 26 (15.8) | 18 (25.4) | 1.82 (0.92–3.58) | 0.085 |
Tiredness/weakness | 62 (26.3) | 39 (23.64) | 23 (32.39) | 1.55 (0.84–2.86) | 0.162 |
Dizziness | 44 (18.6) | 27 (16.4) | 17 (23.9) | 1.61 (0.81–3.19) | 0.173 |
Headache | 53 (22.5) | 34 (20.6) | 19 (26.8) | 1.41 (0.74–2.69) | 0.3 |
Nausea | 20 (8.5) | 14 (8.5) | 6 (8.5) | 1.00 (0.37–2.71) | 0.993 |
Fainting | 1 (0.4) | 0 (0.0) | 1 (1.41) | - | 0.301 |
No symptoms | 46 (19.5) | 37 (22.4) | 9 (12.7) | 0.50 (0.23–1.11) | 0.087 |
Thirsty | 1 (50.0) | 1 (100.0) | 0 (0) | 1 | - |
Other symptoms | 2 (0.8) | 1 (0.61) | 1 (1.41) | 2.34 (0.14–37.99) | 0.549 |
Sun Protection Equipment/Item | Total (n = 236) (%) | Sun Exposure Is Not Hazard (n = 102) (%) | Sun Exposure Is a Hazard (n = 134) (%) | p-Value |
---|---|---|---|---|
Hat | 89 (37.7) | 32 (31.4) | 57 (42.5) | 0.08 |
Sunglasses | 4 (1.7) | 2 (2.00) | 2 (1.5) | 0.782 |
Shade (umbrella, gazebo, awning, tree, trading stall) | 166 (70.3) | 73 (71.6) | 93 (69.4) | 0.718 |
Sunscreen | 2 (0.9) | 0.00 | 2 (1.5) | 0.215 |
Protective clothing (long-sleeves shirts, long pants) | 70 (29.7) | 20 (19.6) | 50 (37.3) | 0.003 |
Traditional clay | 73 (30.9) | 25 (24.5) | 48 (35.8) | 0.063 |
Other | 8 (3.4) | 3 (2.9) | 5 (3.73) | 0.74 |
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Wright, C.Y.; Reddy, T.; Mathee, A.; Street, R.A. Sun Exposure, Sun-Related Symptoms, and Sun Protection Practices in an African Informal Traditional Medicines Market. Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2017, 14, 1142. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph14101142
Wright CY, Reddy T, Mathee A, Street RA. Sun Exposure, Sun-Related Symptoms, and Sun Protection Practices in an African Informal Traditional Medicines Market. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. 2017; 14(10):1142. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph14101142
Chicago/Turabian StyleWright, Caradee Y., Tarylee Reddy, Angela Mathee, and Renée A. Street. 2017. "Sun Exposure, Sun-Related Symptoms, and Sun Protection Practices in an African Informal Traditional Medicines Market" International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 14, no. 10: 1142. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph14101142