Conocimientos y actitudes sobre el uso de protector solar en una comunidad rural de Veracruz

Prolonged exposure to ultraviolet radiation is the main cause of skin cancer, and in rural communities sun exposure is constant while sunscreen use tends to be limited. The objective of this study was to identify knowledge and attitudes regarding sunscreen use among residents of a rural community in the state of Veracruz, Mexico. A quantitative, observational, descriptive, cross-sectional study was conducted with a convenience sample of 90 people aged 18 to 27 years (54 men and 36 women), who completed a self-administered 12-question online questionnaire. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics in SPSS v22. Results showed that about 70% of participants considered sunscreen important, and only 15.56% were currently using it. Of the participants, 85.56% perceived their sun exposure as average or excessive, and 84.44% reported skin changes associated with this exposure. The main barriers to sunscreen use were lack of habit, misinformation, and sociocultural influence, including gender stereotypes. Finally, a gap was identified between knowledge of the risks of sun exposure and the adoption of photoprotective practices, highlighting the need to implement educational strategies that take into account the habits and sociocultural beliefs of the rural population.