SCREEN TIME AND ITS ASSOCCIATED FACTORS AMONG UNDER FIVE CHILDREN IN WOLISO TOWN, CENTRAL ETHIOPIA, 2024.

Abstract

Introduction: Screen time is a total time someone spent per day in watching screen devices such as mobile phone, television, computer, tablet, or any visual devices. Screen time has almost been doubled among young children. Globally, 70-90% of under-five children had an excessive screen time. Excessive screen time is related to developmental delay, increased sedentary behavior, and, elevated risk of various health related problems and mortality. Despite this, poor attention has been given both in global and local context and, there is limited evidence on screen time among under-five children, who are in behavioral and psychosocial developmental climax, particularly in Ethiopia. Objective: This study was aimed to assess the level of excessive screen time and its associated factors among under-five children in Woliso town, Central Ethiopia, 2024. Methods: In this community-based cross-sectional study, 506 guardian-child dyad was selected through systematic random sampling. It was conducted from January10 to February 30. Guardians of under-five children were interviewed using a structured questionnaire. EpiData version 3.1 and Statistical Package for Social Sciences version 25.0 were used for data entry and analysis respectively. The results were presented in text, tables, and graphs. Bivariate and multivariable logistic regression was computed along with crude and adjusted odds ratio and 95% CI. Finally, the adjusted odds ratio value and p-value of < 0.05 were used to illustrate the strength of association and pronounce statistical significance, respectively. Result: 498 participants were involved in this study, which yields 98.4% of response rate. Of these, 75.9% (95%CI: 71.9, 79.6) had an excessive screen time. Factors associated with screen time were: Father‟s age  30 years (AOR 0.225, 95%CI: 0.080, 0.630), Mother‟s age (AOR = 1.775, 95%CI: 1.045, 3.015), Child‟s age  24 months (AOR 0.464, 95%CI: 0.251, 0.858),Parental supervision (AOR 4.329, 95%CI: 1.367, 13.71), Parental perception of maximum screen time as <60 minute (AOR 5.894, 95%CI: 2.255, 15.41), Parental perception of maximum screen time as 1hour and above (AOR 4.30, 95%CI: 1.577, 11.73), Parental restrictive practice (AOR 0.495, 95%CI: 0.354, 0.691), and availability of screen devices in eating, playing, or sleeping room (AOR 1.869, 95%CI: 1.069, 3.629). Conclusion and recommendation: Three in four children had an excessive screen time in the study area. Parental factors such as parental supervision, parental perception of maximum screen time, and parental restrictive practice and screen devices in eating, playing or sleeping room have critical role in Child‟s screen time. So responsible bodies should be considering strategies such as setting limit for screen time, regular supervision of young children, and providing education on the recommended level of screen time.