The Use of Mobile Devices Among Children Aged Under 5 Years in the Kurdistan Region-Iraq: A Cross-Sectional Study

BACKGROUND: The use of mobile devices by young children has become increasingly common in today's homes. The study aimed to explore the usage of mobile devices among children aged 1-60 months in contemporary households in Kurdistan Region, Iraq.METHODS: A cross-sectional study design was adapted from May 10, 2023, to November 14, 2023. A purposive non-random sampling technique was utilized to collect data from 504 parents of children aged 1-60 months attending outpatient clinics in the Hevee pediatric hospital. A modified question was used, which was composed of 4 sections, including socio-demographic characteristics, number of features of mobile device usage, factors associated with intensive mobile usage, and circumstances in which parents let their children use mobile devices. SPSS version 23 has been used to analyze collected data.Results: The findings revealed that 57.5% of participants reported intermittent use of mobile media, with 56.3% of children beginning mobile device usage between 13 and 24 months. Approximately 31.7% of participants reported that their child owned a mobile device, with smartphones being the most commonly used devices, as reported by 97.5% of participants. The primary activities on these devices included watching videos (87.8%) and watching TV (75.1%). Furthermore, 24.1% of participants reported 1.52 hours of daily usage. These statistics underscore the prevalent integration of smartphones and similar devices into the daily lives of young children.CONCLUSIONS: This study indicates a high prevalence of mobile device exposure among young children. These findings indicate the importance of monitoring the utilization of digital tools, particularly during early childhood.