Sun Safety Knowledge and Practice Among Farmers in a Tropical Rural Community in Southeastern Nigeria.

Abstract

Objectives: Agriculture provides livelihoods and generates millions of jobs for farmers in tropical sub-Saharan settings. Outdoor farmers, however, are vulnerable to health risks from excess exposure to solar ultraviolet radiation. This study assessed the knowledge, practices, and associated factors of sun safety among farmers of the Amaegbu community in Ede-Oballa, Nsukka local government of Enugu State, Southeastern Nigeria.

Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study design and a purposive sampling technique were employed to select 155 crop farmers living in the study setting. The sample comprised commercial and subsistence (part-time) farmers who cultivate crops either as a primary or supplementary occupation. Data were collected using structured researcher's questionnaire, with a reliability coefficient of 0.926 Croncbach's alpha analysis of data was achieved using descriptive and inferential statistics aided by SPSS version 25 and Microsoft Excel.

Results: Majority (89.7%) of the respondents had good knowledge of sun safety. More than half (52.3%, n = 81) had poor practice of sun safety. The overall practice mean score was 2.32 ± 0.75 There was no significant association between the sociodemographic factors of age and gender of farmers and the practice of sun safety (p = .368; p = 086). Sun safety knowledge was also not significantly associated with practice (p = .472). Only educational level was significantly associated with farmers' practice of sun safety (p = .004).

Conclusion: Despite having good knowledge of sun safety, farmers followed poor sun safety practices. It is recommended that farmers should be encouraged to protect themselves from sun radiation to prevent health hazards. Factors responsible for the poor practice revealed in this study despite a good knowledge should be further evaluated.