Abstract:

Objective: The Objective of this study was to determine and compare awareness, attitude and practice of skin bleaching (SB) between adult women living in urban and rural areas of Kahama Town Council (KTC).

Methods: This was a cross-sectional study involving 322 women from urban areas and 322 women from rural of KTC. Structured questionnaires were used to assess awareness, attitudes and practice of SB among adult women in both urban and rural areas.

Results: Overall prevalence of SB in KTC was 63.8%, there was no difference in prevalence between urban and rural populations (64.6% versus 61.8%, P = 0.462). Overall 37.3% of women were aware of health risks of SB with women in urban areas being significantly more aware as compared to women in rural areas (59.0% versus 15.5% P<0.001). Most women in urban and rural areas believed that skin bleaching makes a woman more beautiful (P<0.001), modern (P = 0.781) and fashionable (P = 0.248). Personal desire (P<0.001) and influence by friends (P = 0.390) were factors which impacted most women’s decision to use skin bleaching products. The commonly used skin bleaching products in KTC were steroids (53.1%), hydroquinone (48.6%) and mercury containing products (4.9%). Steroid containing products were mostly used by women in urban than rural areas (57.7%) versus 48.7%). Hydroquinone products were most commonly applied by women in rural areas as compared to urban areas (54.3% versus 43.3%).

Conclusion: Skin bleaching practice is common in both urban areas and rural areas with women in urban areas being more aware of the health risks associated with skin bleaching than adult women in rural areas of Kahama Town Council.