Technological Device Use Among 0–3 Year Old Children and Attitudes and Behaviors of Their Parents Towards Technological Devices

Abstract

This study was performed to determine the use of technological devices among 0–3 year old children and the attitudes and behaviours of their parents for the use of technological devices. This cross-sectional study was conducted in five family health centers located in Zonguldak City Center. Study group was composed of a total of 500 parents who admitted to five family health centers between April 04-June 01, 2018, who had a child of 0–3 years old and who approved to participate in the study. Data of the study were collected through face-to-face interview technique by using Data Collection Form. In this study, the majority of the parents (82.4%) and children (81.8%) were using at least one of the technological devices. Smartphones (40.8%) were the most commonly used technological devices among the children; and it was followed by television (39.6%) and tablet/computer (19.6%), respectively. Nearly half of the children were using at least one of the technological devices for an average of 2–5 h per day. Parents allowed their children to use technological devices in order to do housework, silence the child when cried, to feed the child, to be able to make him/her sleep, to entertain her/him when he/she spoiled and to spend some time with friends, respectively. The results of this study reveal the necessity for the parents to get counseling service about the health risks that may occur in children due to long-term use of technological devices and about spending effective time with children.