Dicembre 2016 - Volume XXXV - numero 10
Ricerca
con la collaborazione di PUMP e ACP
1Centro per la Salute del Bambino onlus, Trieste
2Pediatra di famiglia, Asolo (Treviso)
Indirizzo per corrispondenza: valeria.balbinot@csbonlus.org
Key words: Digital technologies, Young children, Parental knowledge and practice
Studies on the health implications of the use of digital technologies (DTs) by children justify some concern and point to the need of providing parents with appropriate information and advice. To collect data on knowledge attitude and practices of Italian parents regarding the use of DTs by their young children, a survey was conducted through a questionnaire administered to parents through two different channels: family paediatricians and social networks and websites. Respondents were 604 parents belonging to the first group and 745 to the second. Results show that: a) 30% of parents use DTs to keep their kids calmbefore their child’s first birthday and over 50% before their child’s second birthday; b) both the proportion of children using TDs and the duration of utilization increase rapidly over the first 3 years. These patterns are observed inspite of widespread, although partial, concerns about the risks connected with early use of DTs. Cautious restricted use is more likely to be observed in parents belonging to the second group and is associated with higher educational level. The findings of the survey, the first one to address use of TDs in young children in Italy and among the few reported internationally, indicate that health professionals, as well as educators and the media, should start providing information and advice on TDs much sooner, namely since the first months after birth.
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