Epidemiological characteristics of mobile phone ownership and use in korean children and adolescents.
OBJECTIVE
As public concern on possible harmful effects of mobile phone in children has been raised, information of epidemiological characteristics of mobile phone use in children and adolescents will be essential for public health policy.


METHODS
Using three databases (n=21,693) collected from 2008 to 2011, we examined characteristics of mobile phone ownership and use, and socioeconomic positions (SEP) in Korean children and adolescents.


RESULTS
The ownership rate and the amount of mobile phone use were higher in females than males, in higher school grades than lower grades, and at 2011 than 2008. The average age of first mobile phone ownership was shown to decrease from 12.5 years in currently high school students to 8.4 years in currently elementary school students at 2011. More than 90% of children in the 5th grade owned a mobile phone. More children owned a mobile phone in lower SEP communities than in higher SEP. Children with parents educated less than those with parents educated more were more likely to own and use mobile phone.


CONCLUSIONS
Considering the epidemiological characteristics of mobile phone use, precautionary measures to prevent unnecessary exposure to mobile phones are needed in children and adolescents.
Department of Medical Science, Dankook University College of Medicine, Cheonan, Korea.
Yoon-Hwan
YH
Byun
Department of Preventive Medicine, Dankook University College of Medicine, Cheonan, Korea. ; Environmental Health Center, Dankook Medical Center, Cheonan, Korea.
Mina
M
Ha
Department of Preventive Medicine, Dankook University College of Medicine, Cheonan, Korea. ; Environmental Health Center, Dankook Medical Center, Cheonan, Korea.
Ho-Jang
HJ
Kwon
Department of Public Health, Graduate School, Dankook University, Cheonan, Korea.
Kyung-Hwa
KH
Choi
Department of Public Health, Graduate School, Dankook University, Cheonan, Korea.
Eunae
E
Burm
Asian Citizen's Center for Environment and Health, Seoul, Korea.
Yeyong
Y
Choi
Environmental Health Center, Dankook Medical Center, Cheonan, Korea. ; Department of Psychiatry, Dankook University College of Medicine, Cheonan, Korea.
Myung-Ho
MH
Lim
Environmental Health Center, Dankook Medical Center, Cheonan, Korea.
Seung-Jin
SJ
Yoo
Environmental Health Center, Dankook Medical Center, Cheonan, Korea. ; Department of Psychiatry, Dankook University College of Medicine, Cheonan, Korea.
Ki-Chung
KC
Paik
Radio Technology Research Department, Electronics and Telecommunication Research Institute, Daejeon, Korea.
Hyung-Do
HD
Choi
School of Information and Communication Engineering, Chungbuk National University College of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Cheongju, Korea.
Nam
N
Kim
Adolescents; Children; Mobile phone use; Socioeconomic position