Use of Skin-Whitening Products by Sudanese Undergraduate Females: a Survey

Background Although skin-whitening products are commonly used among dark-skinned women of African descent, research on the frequency with which Sudanese women use skin-whitening products is lacking. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted at the University of Gezira, Sudan, on the use of skin-whitening products among a sample of Sudanese undergraduate females (ages 16-33 years). Sociodemographic characteristics were collected, and students were asked whether they had used skin-whitening products in the past 12 months. Results Of the 348 undergraduate females surveyed in this study, 74.4 % reported using skin-whitening products within the past year. Of this group, 2.7 % reported using injections, 2.4 % pills, 30.6 % bleaching cream, and 76.2 % soap. Illegal sources (e.g., people selling on the sides of roads) of skin-whitening products were reported by 22.8 %. The use of skin-whitening products was common in females who were not satisfied with their skin colors more so than those who were satisfied with their skin colors (83.7 vs. 70.5 %, P = 0.010). Undergraduate females who had mothers, sisters, or other relatives who bleached reported a greater frequency of using skin-whitening products than those who had no family member who bleached (100, 87.7, or 77 % vs. 67.5 %, P = 0.003, respectively). The odds of using skin-whitening products in females who had mothers or sisters bleaching were 7.8 times higher (adjusted odds ratio (aOR) 7.8; 95 % confidence interval (CI) 2.572, 23.828) and two times higher in females who had other relatives bleaching (aOR 2.4; 95 % CI 1.159, 5.115), compared with females who had no family members who bleached. Conclusion It was estimated that a majority (7 out of 10) of Sudanese undergraduate females have tried skin-whitening products. However, because the university population is an elite group, a population-based survey is warranted to address the use of skin-whitening products among the general population of Sudanese women.