Abstract
Objective: to evaluate the association of different phenotypes with sun sensitivity factors, sun protection behavior and ethnicity in school-age children. Design: cross sectional study in the framework of a survey of children using a self-administered questionnaire. Setting and participants: 35412 children attending primary schools in the provinces of Latina and Rome, located in the Lazio region (Italy), in the 1998-2001 time period. Main outcome measures: Odds Ratios (ORs) and their relative 95% Confidence Intervals (95% CI) computed through univariate and multivariate logistic regression models. Results: FOTO positives phenotype, a proxy variable of the fair phenotype, was directly and significantly associated with the tendency to sunburn (OR 4.64;95% CI 4.39-4.89), the presence of freckles on the face (OR 1.65;95% CI 1.55-1.77), ofnaevi on the left forearm (OR 1.18;95% CI 1.12-1.25), the number of grandparents born in northern areas (OR 1.54;95% CI 1.15-2.07, for four northern grandparents versus none), the residence in Latina Province (OR 1.13;95% CI 1.07-1.20) and the use of sunscreens (OR 1.70;95% CI 1.55-1.88). An inverse association was observed with the male sex (OR 0.91;95% CI0.86-0.96), the increase of school-class level (OR 0.66;95% CI 0.61-0.72, for the highest versus the lowest school-class level) and the ability to tan (OR 0.38;95% CI 0.34-0.42). Conclusion: These findings confirmed that fairness of phenotype is associated in children with other skin cancer risk factors as well as ethnicity and parents' sun protection behavior.
Translated title of the contribution | Skin cancer risk factors in childhood: Findings of a survey in an italian area characterized by an atypical migration |
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Original language | Italian |
Pages (from-to) | 45-50 |
Number of pages | 6 |
Journal | Epidemiologia e prevenzione |
Volume | 33 |
Issue number | 1-2 |
Publication status | Published - Jan 2009 |
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Epidemiology
- Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health