Duration and practices of television viewing in Thai infants and toddlers.
BACKGROUND
Television viewing is discouraged in infants; however its magnitude and pattern in Thailand is still unknown


METHODS
Data on magnitude of TV viewing and viewing practices from 4,157 children in Prospective Cohort of Thai Children were obtained between 2001 and 2005.


RESULTS
At 1, 2, 2.5, and 3 years of age, the percentage of children watching TV was 77%, 90%, 92%, and 95%, respectively. Viewing duration also increased with age from 10 minutes/day at 1 year to 60 minutes/day at 3 years. Bangkok children spent double the screen time than children in other provinces. The most popular programs were cartoons and entertainment while 4% to 7% watched children programs.


CONCLUSIONS
Most children in this cohort were exposed to TV by three years of age.
Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, Prince of Songkla University, Hat Yai, Songkhla, Thailand. utchareei@yahoo.com
Utcharee
U
Intusoma
Ladda
L
Mo-Suwan
Virasakdi
V
Chongsuvivatwong
D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D044466:Asian People / Q000523:psychology*; D002652:Child Behavior / Q000208:ethnology*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D016487:Parenting / Q000208:ethnology*; D013690:Television / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D013785:Thailand; D013997:Time Factors