Association of mobile screen media use among children ages 6 mo to 2 y with minimum dietary diversity: A case control study

Abstract

ObjectivesMinimum dietary diversity (MDD) is the consumption of four or more food groups. Mobile screen media (MSM) refers to mobile electronic media devices. MSM use has become common, even among children at a very early age. This study aimed to determine whether there is any association between MSM use in children with MDD and associated factors. MethodsA case-control study was conducted at the pediatric department of a tertiary care hospital in 2019. Children ages 6 mo to 2 y were included in the study. Patients without MDD were considered cases and those with MDD controls. A total of 110 age-matched participants were sampled as cases and controls after informed consent was obtained. Acutely ill children with congenital malformations or chronic malnutrition were excluded from the study. Data were collected using a questionnaire developed on Epicollect, consisting of sociodemographic profile, anthropometric measures, illness history, feeding behavior (including complementary feeds, last 24-h dietary history), and details on MSM use (during feeding and in general) of the child. A data analysis was performed using STATA, version 12.1 SE. A χ2 or similar test was performed for categorical variables and a t test or similar for continuous variables, with odds ratios calculated and a correlation analysis performed. ResultsUrban children had better dietary diversity than those in semiurban areas (χ2 = 11.286; df = 1; P = 0.004). Joint families had a greater association with MDD (χ2 = 6.191; df = 1; P = 0.045). MSM use during feeding was found to be significantly associated with a child not having MDD (χ2 = 5.026; df = 1; P = 0.025; odds ratio: 1.887). Most families had an MSM device at home (99.3%). The median age of MSM initiation was 9 mo (interquartile range, 6–12 mo), and the median duration of use was 10 min per d (interquartile range, 5–20 min). MSM use is one of the most common methods employed for feeding (36.4%). The duration of MSM use on the previous day was significantly positively correlated with regular usage (r = 0.845; P = 0.000). ConclusionsThis study concluded that the use of an MSM device during feeding was associated with a higher risk of not having MDD.