COVID-19 pandemic in Brazil: what are the impacts on child behavior, sleep quality, screen time and diet?
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.22456/2177-0018.119070Keywords:
Coronavirus infections, COVID-19, Child, Habits, Epidemiology, descriptiveAbstract
Aim: To describe the potential consequences of social distancing and the COVID-19 pandemic on the behavior, sleep quality, screen time, and diet of Brazilian children aged 0 to 12 years. Materials and methods: This descriptive observational study was conducted using a self-administered online questionnaire distributed to parents, caregivers or guardians of children aged 0-12 years. The same questionnaire was distributed to two groups between August 19, 2020 and September 19, 2020. Users of Pelotas Public Health Services made up one group, while the general Brazilian population made up the other. The data was analyzed descriptively considering α=5%. Results: The total sample consisted of 271 respondents. According to caregivers, 59.4% of children showed behavioral changes and 48% reported or demonstrated COVID-19 fear. Moreover, improvement in sleep quality was reported for children up to 2 years, and 33.3% of caregivers in both groups reported a decline in sleep quality among children aged 9 to 12. Eighty-five percent of children increased their screen time. The intake of healthy foods remained the same for most of the children, but the intake of ultra-processed food increased for over 40% of them, primarily between 3 to 5 years old and 9 to 12 years old. Discussion: The results should be a focus of attention in order to maintain proper child development following a pandemic. Conclusion: The social distancing caused by the COVID-19 pandemic had a significant impact on the children's routine, with negative effects on their behavior, diet and screen time. In addition, a decline in sleep quality was observed among older children, while better sleep quality was reported for younger children.Downloads
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Copyright (c) 2022 Jaiane Freitas de Faria, Letícia Regina Morello Sartori, Carolina Raposo de Moura, Camila Amaral Pinto, Rejane Andina Teixeira, Beatriz Costa Bidigaray da Silva, Patrícia Osório Guerreiro, Marcos Britto Correa, Luísa Jardim Corrêa de Oliveira
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