JMIR Publications

ABSTRACT

Background:

In Bangladesh as well as throughout the world, children's screen time has significantly increased. Children spent a lot of time on the internet and digital screens for entertainment, education, and communication which have increased their daily screen time. However, the potential detrimental impacts of excessive screen time on children's mental, physical, and social health have drawn attention.

Objective:

This study aimed to explore the effect of high exposure to screen on health and mental well-being of school-going children in Dhaka, Bangladesh.

Methods:

From July 2022 to June 2024, this cross-sectional descriptive study was carried out. 420 kids between the ages of 6 and 14 were enrolled in three English-medium and three Bangla-medium schools in Dhaka city using a stratified random sample technique. Anthropometric measurements, a semi-structured questionnaire, the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index Scale (PSQI), the Development and Wellbeing Assessment Scale (DAWBA), and the Strength and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ), which was validated in Bangla, were used to gather data. We considered the students who were exposed to screen for less than 2 hours as the low-exposed group and those who were exposed for more than 2 hours as high-exposed group.

Results:

We found 83% of the students were high exposed group and their average screen time was 4.6 ± 2.3 hours. Compared to the low exposed group, the high exposed group had a significantly higher rate of eye problems (96% vs 4%, P< 0.001). Headache was also common in high exposed group (83%). Moreover, students of high exposed group had a short duration and poor quality of sleep which was statistically significant. Furthermore, obesity was more predominant in the high-exposure group (p < 0.001). Our study revealed overall 40% of children suffered from mental health problems by using DAWBA scale which was increased in high exposed group compared to low exposed group. Behavioral problems, such as conduct issues (28.3%) and peer difficulties (28.8%), were observed among the participants. However, there was no statistically significant difference was found between two groups.

Conclusions:

A collaborative and coordinated multistage approach will be required to create effective and acceptable guidelines and policies for the optimum and positive use of digital screens for the children of Bangladesh. Further prospective studies on larger scales can be conducted to determine the impacts on health aspects meticulously.