Patterns of television viewing and associated factors among adolescent school children in the Anuradhapura Educational Zone, Sri Lanka
Abstract
Background: The popularity of screening media and its influence on the younger generation is an emerging worldwide public health problem. The scarcity of statistics become more evident in Sri Lanka compared to the world. For timely interventions, identification of patterns of screening media usage is a national demand.
Objective: To describe the television (TV) viewing patterns and associated factors among adolescent school children in Anuradhapura Educational Zone
Method: This is a descriptive, cross-sectional study. The sample size was 2060, selected using two staged cluster sampling and random sampling. A pre-tested, self-administered questionnaire was used.
Results: Response rate was 87%. Almost 97% of the sample had a TV at home and 92% of them had it in their living room. A majority of 94% were watching TV under parental supervision. Mean TV viewing time per week was 23.6 hours. Mean time spent for extracurricular activities per week was 9.3 hours.
Conclusions: TV viewing time per week was high compared to mean time spent on extracurricular activities.
Sri Lanka Journal of Child Health, 2019; 48(4): 292-299
© 2019 A Padeniya, R A Kumarathunga, W S Dissanayake, P C Jayawardhana, C N Nuwandika, T M Rathnayeka, C N Weerakoon, D W Delpagoda Delpagoda, published by Sri Lanka College of Paediatricians
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