Àurea Cartanyà-Hueso1, Cristina Lidón-Moyano1, Pia Cassanello2,3, Ana Díez-Izquierdo1,4, Juan Carlos Martín-Sánchez1, Albert Balaguer2,3, Jose M Martínez-Sánchez1. 1. Group of Evaluation of Health Determinants and Health Policies, Department of Basic Sciences, Universitat Internacional de Catalunya, 08195 Sant Cugat del Vallès, Spain. 2. Pediatric Division, Hospital Universitari General de Catalunya, 08159 Sant Cugat del Vallès, Spain. 3. Department of Medicine, Universitat Internacional de Catalunya, 08159 Sant Cugat del Vallès, Spain. 4. Pediatric Allergy and Pulmonology Section, Department of Pediatrics, Hospital Universitari Vall d'Hebron, 08035 Barcelona, Spain.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Total lockdown due to COVID-19 pandemic might have potentially increased screen time in children. This study aims to describe the smartphone and tablets usage in children under 48 months living in Barcelona during the COVID-19 confinement. METHODS: Cross-sectional study using a non-probabilistic sample of parents with children under 48 months living in Barcelona (Spain) during COVID-19 confinement (n = 313). We calculated percentages of exposure to smartphones and tablets. Moreover, for those children were exposed, we calculated unadjusted and adjusted Geometric Mean Ratios (GMR) of daily smartphones and tablets usage and their 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) trough Generalized Linear Models with Gamma family and link log. Associations were adjusted for potential confounders. RESULTS: During COVID-19 confinement, 67.5% of children under 48 months were daily exposed to smartphones and tablets. Further, those children who were exposed during meals, as well as before going to bed, spend longer durations using them, aGMR = 2.38 (95% CI 1.73, 3.34) and aGMR = 1.95 (95% CI 1.34, 2.91) respectively. CONCLUSION: Two out of three children under 48 months living in Barcelona were daily exposed to smartphones and tablets during total lockdown due to COVID-19. Taking this findings into account cohort studies are needed to assess any change in the screen time patterns due to total confinement in order to allow the Government help families, particularly those more vulnerable, in a possible pandemic resurgence.
BACKGROUND: Total lockdown due to COVID-19 pandemic might have potentially increased screen time in children. This study aims to describe the smartphone and tablets usage in children under 48 months living in Barcelona during the COVID-19 confinement. METHODS: Cross-sectional study using a non-probabilistic sample of parents with children under 48 months living in Barcelona (Spain) during COVID-19 confinement (n = 313). We calculated percentages of exposure to smartphones and tablets. Moreover, for those children were exposed, we calculated unadjusted and adjusted Geometric Mean Ratios (GMR) of daily smartphones and tablets usage and their 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) trough Generalized Linear Models with Gamma family and link log. Associations were adjusted for potential confounders. RESULTS: During COVID-19 confinement, 67.5% of children under 48 months were daily exposed to smartphones and tablets. Further, those children who were exposed during meals, as well as before going to bed, spend longer durations using them, aGMR = 2.38 (95% CI 1.73, 3.34) and aGMR = 1.95 (95% CI 1.34, 2.91) respectively. CONCLUSION: Two out of three children under 48 months living in Barcelona were daily exposed to smartphones and tablets during total lockdown due to COVID-19. Taking this findings into account cohort studies are needed to assess any change in the screen time patterns due to total confinement in order to allow the Government help families, particularly those more vulnerable, in a possible pandemic resurgence.
Entities:
Keywords:
Spain; child; coronavirus infections; infant; pandemics; preschool; screen time
Authors: Ana Díez-Izquierdo; Pia Cassanello; Aurea Cartanyà; Núria Matilla-Santander; Albert Balaguer Santamaria; Jose M Martinez-Sanchez Journal: Pediatr Res Date: 2018-09-07 Impact factor: 3.756
Authors: Daniela Rodrigues; Augusta Gama; Aristides M Machado-Rodrigues; Helena Nogueira; Maria-Raquel G Silva; Vítor Rosado-Marques; Cristina Padez Journal: BMC Public Health Date: 2020-06-10 Impact factor: 3.295