Uso de telas e fatores associados nos dois primeiros anos de vida

Abstract

Objective: To investigate the prevalence of screen exposure in infants attending primary health care and associated sociodemographic factors. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted between June and December 2024 with mothers aged ≥12 years and children up to 2 years of age attending childcare at five basic health units in Passo Fundo, RS. The outcome was screen exposure, characterized by current use of television or other devices. Infant age and maternal sociodemographic factors were assessed, including age, skin color, marital status, education, employment status, income, number of children and people in the household, and pregnancy planning. The age of onset of exposure, daily time, and content viewed were also investigated. Descriptive and bivariate analyses (chi-square test, p<0.05) and logistic regression with crude and adjusted odds ratios were performed. Results: 128 mother-child dyads participated. The prevalence of screen exposure was 61% (95% CI 53–70), with a mean daily time of 88.9 minutes. Television was the most used device (56.9%), starting at a mean age of 4.35 months; cell phones, tablets, and computers were used by 12.4%, starting at a mean age of 9.43 months. After adjustment, infants >6 months (p=0.006), children of mothers ≥21 years (p=0.009), with education up to high school completion (p=0.013), and residents of households with ≤4 people (p=0.029) were more likely to be exposed. Conclusions: Early exposure to screens was frequent and influenced by maternal and family sociodemographic factors, reinforcing the need for parental guidance and policies that promote healthy use of digital media and activities appropriate for children.