PHOTOEXPOSURE IN COMMUNITY HEALTH AGENTS IN THE MUNICIPALITY OF VASSOURAS - RJ: FIRST FIELD ANALYSIS

Abstract

The skin covers the human body and becomes subject to different types of injuries, the vast majority of which are caused by continuous and progressive sun exposure. Professionals who work outdoors, such as Community Health Agents (CHA), are more subject to damage caused by ultraviolet radiation (UV), especially those who neglect protective factors. Objective: to know the habits of sun exposure of the ACS who work in 21 Basic Health Units in the city of Vassouras, Rio de Janeiro. Methods: this is a quantitative study, carried out between August 2020 and August 2022, with information obtained through structured questionnaires with 41 CHAs. Results: 80% of the CHAs visit more than 4 times a week, with an average exposure of more than 4 hours a day, and of these, more than 50% were individuals exposed between 10:00 hrs and 14:00 hrs. 71% of respondents report having had some history of sunburn during their lifetime. Of the ACS, only 41% claim to use sunscreen frequently, of these 56% use it only in summer. 68% do not use photoprotection mechanisms other than sunscreen. Conclusion: These data allow us to guide collective measures for the prevention of skin lesions.