Table 2.
Prevalence of sunburns, indoor tanning, skin cancer screening, and frequent sun-protective behaviors among sexual minority and heterosexual women.
| Outcomesa | Sexual minority women (N = 464) |
Heterosexual women (N = 17,340) |
P Value | HP 2020 Targetb |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sunburn in the past 12 months | ||||
| Prevalence, % (95% CI) | 43.3 (37.2–49.7) | 33.2 (32.1–34.4) | 0.001 | 33.9 |
| aOR (95% CI) c | 1.08 (0.80–1.48) | 1 [reference] | 0.61 | |
| Indoor tanning in the past 12 months | ||||
| Prevalence, % (95% CI) | 6.6 (4.1–10.3) | 5.2 (4.7–5.8) | 0.34 | 3.6 |
| aOR (95% CI) | 0.88 (0.52–1.48) | 1 [reference] | 0.63 | |
| Skin cancer screening exam in the past 12 months | ||||
| Prevalence, % (95% CI) | 12.5 (9.0–16.9) | 11.6 (11.0–12.3) | 0.68 | N/A |
| aOR (95% CI) | 1.51 (1.03–2.20) | 1 [reference] | 0.03 | |
| Frequent sun-protective behaviors d | ||||
| Prevalence, % (95% CI) | 70.3 (64.5–75.4) | 70.1 (69.1–71.1) | 0.97 | 73.7 |
| aOR (95% CI) | 1.18 (0.89–1.56) | 1 [reference] | 0.26 | |
| 1. Seeking shade | ||||
| Prevalence, % (95% CI) | 41.4 (35.6–47.5) < | 43.2 (42.2–44.3) | 0.57 | N/A |
| aOR (95% CI) | 1.03 (0.79–1.33) | 1 [reference] | 0.85 | |
| 2. Long sleeves | ||||
| Prevalence, % (95% CI) | 8.6 (5.7–12.8) | 11.5 (10.8–12.2) | 0.16 | N/A |
| aOR (95% CI) | 1.06 (0.66–1.68) | 1 [reference] | 0.82 | |
| 3. Long pants | ||||
| Prevalence, % (95% CI) | 25.1 (20.0–31.0) | 22.7 (21.8–23.6) | 0.38 | N/A |
| aOR (95% CI) | 1.41 (1.03–1.94) | 1 [reference] | 0.03 | |
| 4. Wide-brimmed hat | ||||
| Prevalence, % (95% CI) | 12.6 (9.1–17.2) | 14.1 (13.3–14.9) | 0.50 | N/A |
| aOR (95% CI) | 1.19 (0.8–1.76) | 1 [reference] | 0.39 | |
| 5. SPF 15+ sunscreen use | ||||
| Prevalence, % (95% CI) | 39.7 (33.3–46.5) | 39.7 (38.6–40.9) | 0.99 | N/A |
| aOR (95% CI) | 1.07 (0.80–1.42) | 1 [reference] | 0.66 |
Abbreviations: HP 2020, Healt hy People 2020; aOR, adjusted prevalence odds ratio; CI, confidence interval; N/A, not available; SPF, sun protection factor
Complete case analysis excluded up to 1,498 (8.4%) participants with missing outcomes (4.7%) or covariates (4.2%). Missing data were less common in sexual minority women (5.2% vs. 8.5%, P = 0.01).
HP 2020 targets are federal public health goals for year 2020, aimed to reduce the prevalence of sunburns and indoor tanning in the past 12 months and to increase frequent sun-protective behaviors. Skin cancer-related HP 2020 targets are measured by the questions in the National Health Interview Survey. HP 2020 targets have not been set for skin cancer screen or individual sun-protective behaviors.
Multivariable logistic regression models adjusted for age group, race/ethnicity, income level, smoking status, heavy alcohol use, and body mass index. First-order interaction terms between race/ethnicity and sexual minority status were not significant and not included in the final model.
Composite measure defined as “always” or “most of the time” use of staying in the shade, wearing a long-sleeved shirt, long pants, wide-brimmed hat, and/or SPF 15+ sunscreen when going outside on a warm sunny day for more than one hour. Respondents who report they “do not go out into the sun” were not considered to engage in frequent sun-protective behaviors as per the Healthy People 2020 target definitions.