Abstract
Objectives
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.
Methods
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.
Results
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.
Conclusions
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.
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Acknowledgements
I would like to thank Aycan ATESCI, Aysenur OKDEM, Ayse DEMIR and Kaan ERDEM, who are 3rd year nursing students, for their contribution in data collection and transfer of these data to SPSS Package Program.
Author Contributions
H.K.A. designed and executed the study, analyzed the data, and wrote the paper.
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The author declares that he has no conflict of interest.
Ethical Approval
Written approval was taken from Zonguldak Bulent Ecevit University Human Research Ethics Committee (01.16.2018/297) and Zonguldak Provincial Directorate of Health (39330677-799) in order to conduct the study.
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Informed consent was obtained from all individual participants included in the study. No identifying information was obtained during data collection.
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Kulakci-Altintas, H. Technological Device Use Among 0–3 Year Old Children and Attitudes and Behaviors of Their Parents Towards Technological Devices. J Child Fam Stud 29, 55–61 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10826-019-01457-x
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10826-019-01457-x