2019 Skin Cancer Prevention Progress Report 13 Surveillance Data to Inform Community Prevention Efforts State-level behavior and disease surveillance efforts often provide critical data to help community leaders make decisions regarding how to prioritize community public health efforts.The skin cancer prevention efforts in the state of New Hampshire are one example of using surveillance data to inform community action. Melanoma incidence rates in New Hampshire are consistently some of the highest in the country. For example, in 2015, New Hampshire had the third highest melanoma incidence rates compared to all other U.S. states. Additionally, approximately 12% of Hispanic and 9% of non-Hispanic white high school girls in New Hampshire reported indoor tanning in the past 12 months on the 2015 New HampshireYouth Risk Behavior Survey. (PDF-378 KB) Realizing the critical need to reduce UV exposure among state residents and reduce tanning behaviors among adolescents, the New Hampshire Comprehensive Cancer Collaboration supported a number of skin cancer prevention efforts. High school forums were held to raise awareness of the dangers of tanning. A partnership with IMPACT Melanoma led to the implementation of the “Your Skin Is In” program and “Teens onTanning” forums at high-risk high schools. A new law to prohibit use of indoor tanning among minors in New Hampshire went into effect January 1, 2016. New Hampshire will continue to monitor the use of indoor tanning and the prevalence of sunburn among youth and adults in the state and support prevention activities through the Comprehensive Cancer Collaboration and various local initiatives. More information about the New Hampshire Comprehensive Cancer Collaboration is available at www.nhcancerplan.org.
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