Healthy children, healthy community : Exploring children's sun protection behaviors and policies in Romanian kindergartens

Background: Reducing excessive sun exposure can be a step in reducing skin cancer incidence among young and middle-aged populations. Because healthy behaviors are formed at an early age, kindergartens can encourage sun-safe behavior formation. Sun protection policies are efficient ways to increase sun protection practices in educational settings. However, Romania lacks the necessary policies that could act as framework for promoting sun safety in children. Methods: The analysis used data from a cross-sectional study assessing children's sun exposure and sun protection behaviors and parental attitudes in a sample of kindergartens in Cluj-Napoca, Romania. In addition, we conducted a survey with management representatives from 70 kindergartens from Cluj-Napoca, regarding sun protection policy and practices employed. International recommendations, together with effective sun protection policies implemented in kindergartens and schools from several countries were reviewed. Results: This study's findings suggest that children between 3 and 6 years old in our sample in Cluj-Napoca are at increased risk due to high sun exposure and moderate sun protection practices. In terms of institutional policies, the result shows that Romanian kindergartens lack not only sun protection policies but also programs promoting children's sun safe behavior. Discussion: Adopting a sun protection policy for kindergartens could lower children sun exposure. This pilot study's findings contribute to the development of adequate policies that protect children from this public health risk in Romania and improve community health. In addition, this study brings the issue up on the policy agenda for the first time and provides practical information to policymakers.