Children's understanding of sun protection behaviours: a comparative analysis.

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.