Factors Associated With Screen Time Among Preschool Children in Lima, Peru

• Published in: Child : care, health & development Vol. 50; no. 5; pp. e13330 - n/a
• Main Authors: Yabiku‐Soto, Kiomi, Saavedra‐Garcia, Lorena, Guerra Valencia, Jamee, Hernández‐Vásquez, Akram, Diez‐Canseco, Francisco
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Blackwell Publishing Ltd 01-09-2024
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Age; Child, Preschool; children; Childrens health; Cross-Sectional Studies; Day care; Education; Electronic Equipment; Exercise; Female; Food consumption; Humans; Male; Mothers; Mothers - psychology; Mothers - statistics & numerical data; Peru; Peru - epidemiology; Physical activity; preschool; Preschool children; Prevalence; Screen Time; Sedentary Behavior; Socioeconomic Factors; Television; Television - statistics & numerical data; Wealth; Women; Young Adult; Peru; preschool; children; Peru; screen time
• ISSN: 0305-1862; 1365-2214; 1365-2214
• DOI: 10.1111/cch.13330

ABSTRACT
Objective
This study aims to identify factors associated with excessive screen time among preschoolers in Lima, Peru.
Methods
Cross‐sectional analysis from a 2019 panel study in Lima, Peru, was conducted focusing on women, aged 18 and above, who are mothers of 3‐ to 5‐year‐olds in mid‐high and mid‐low districts. There were two outcome variables: excessive TV and excessive electronic devices screen time, defined as ≥ 1 h of screen exposure for each one. Explored factors included the mother’s age, education and wealth index and the children’s age, sex, physical activity, day care attendance and ultra‐processed food consumption. Crude (cPR) and adjusted prevalence ratios (aPR) were estimated for the association between associated factors and excessive screen time using the GLM Poisson of with a logarithmic link.
Results
Excessive TV screen time and electronic devices prevalence was 74% and 36.9%, respectively. For TV screen time, a high wealth index (aPR 1.13; 95%CI: 1.03–1.23) and children’s age (aPR 1.18; 95%CI: 1.08–1.29 for 4 years, PR = 1.17; 95%CI: 1.07–1.28 for 5 years) were significant. For electronic devices, significant associations included mothers with more than 3 children (aPR 0.77; 95%CI: 0.62–0.96), being single (aPR 1.27; 95%CI: 1.01–1.58) and a high wealth index (aPR 1.38; 95%CI: 1.13–1.68). Furthermore, significant associations were found between excessive electronic device screen time and consumption of candies and chocolates (aPR 1.38; 95%CI: 1.08–1.77).
Conclusions
Seven out of 10 preschool children exceeded the recommended television screen time. Certain characteristics of the children, their mothers and the family’s socio‐economic situation are related to excessive television screen time and excessive electronic device screen time.