Objective:

To characterize the use of media by preschool children and to compare this use with AAP and WHO recommendations. Test associations between children's use of digital devices and certain parental characteristics and their use.

Type of study:

Cross-sectional, descriptive, and analytical.

Location:

Family Health Units (FHU) from the northern region of Portugal.

Population:

Users aged 12 months to 5 years of six FHU.

Methods:

Anonymous questionnaire was applied to a sample of parents who accompanied the child to the consultation. It included demographic variables and questions related to the use of media by children and parents.

Results:

We obtained 342 questionnaires. The television and smartphone were the most frequently used devices in the households of the surveyed families and the ones most frequently used by children. The use began before 18 months in 74.7% for television, 23.4% for smartphone and 16.3% for tablet. The daily use of television and smartphone was 65.9% and 24%, respectively. 19% reported the use of the devices in the 60 minutes before sleep and the ‘use during mealtime’ was the main reason addressed by parents. In children aged < 24 months, 88-93% demonstrated using media; from children aged > 24 months, 70-74% had a screen time > 1h/day. An association was established between children’s screen time and parental screen time, parents’ perception of their child’s media use, and the number of media devices available in the bedroom.

Conclusions:

There is a very early onset, before 18 months, for the use of these technologies, which seems to be abusive, worrisome, and outside of the current guideline standards. It is important to address this issue early in consultations, encouraging parents to other types of activity and stimulation.

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