Prevalence and correlates of sunscreen use among US high school students

Sun exposure during childhood and adolescence increases the risk of skin ca ncer later in life. To determine the prevalence and correlates of sunscreen use among US high school students, researchers assessed data on sunscreen use, demographic characteristics, and health behaviors obtained from the 19 99 Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS). This survey used a three-stage cluste r sample design to produce a nationally representative sample of students i n grades 9-12 (N=15,349). Overall, 13.3% (95% confidence interval, +/-1.3) of students used sunscreen always or most of the time (ie, frequent use). F requent sunscreen use was lower among males (8.6%, +/-1.2) than females (18 .1%, +/-1.9) and among Blacks (4.8%, +/-1.7) and Hispanics (10.8%, +/-2.8) than Whites (16.5%, +/-1.9). Frequent sunscreen use decreased with age. Inf requent use of sunscreen was associated with other risky health behaviors, such as driving after drinking or riding in a car with a drinking driver, s moking cigarettes, being sexually active, and being physically inactive. Re sults indicate a need for health education interventions addressing sunscre en use that target high school students.