Gender difference associated with the pre- and postnatal maternal mobile phone usage and behavioral problems in preschool children

Abstract

Background Concern has been raised regarding the possible effects of mobile phone use on children’s health. The World Health Organization has emphasized the need for research into the possible effects of radiofrequency electromagnetic field (RF-EMF) in children. We examined the association between pre- and postnatal exposure to maternal mobile phones and neurobehavioral development in children.Method Study subjects were 763 mother-child pairs from a prospective birth cohort, Mothers and Children’s Health (MOCEH) study. Mother’s mobile phone calling frequency and duration were assessed at early pregnancy (≤20 weeks), 3, 4 and 5 years of children’s age via questionnaire. High and low exposed group were classified using trajectory analysis. Children’s neurodevelopment was assessed using the Korea-Child Behavior Checklist (K-CBCL) of Infant Development-Revised at 4, 5 and 6 years of age. The K-CBCL is consisted of total behavior problems, internalizing and externalizing problem. Generalized estimating equation model was applied to analyze neurodevelopmental patterns by exposed group over time adjusted for residential area, gender, maternal age at child birth, maternal education and secondhand smoke.Results The mean and standard deviation of total behavior problems were 47.8 ± 10.3, 47.5 ± 10.2, 49.4 ± 9.7 respectively at 4, 5 and 6 years of age. When stratified with gender, for analysis calling frequency, total behavior problems and Internalizing problem score were significantly 27.7 points (p=0.02) and 29.3 (p=0.02) points higher in high exposed group than those in low exposed group among only males from 3 to 5 years of age. No significant results showed among females.Conclusion The research results showed that the effects of mother’s mobile phone call on children's behavior showed different susceptible exposure of neurobehavioral development by gender.Acknowledgement This work was supported by the ICT R&D program of MSIT/IITP. [2019-0-00102, A Study on Public Health and Safety in a Complex EMF Environment]