Abstract

Objective: We studied associations among demographic, environmental and parental variables and TV viewing among school children in community of Wah Cantt, Pakistan.
Methodology: Parents of school children (3-12 years) completed a questionnaire about TV viewing and associated variables (demographic, environmental and parental). Excess TV viewing was defined as >2hrours on weekdays and >4hrs on weekends.
Results: Participants were 287 parents of school children of WahCantt (one public and one private school). 57.8% parents reported excess TV viewing. Such practice was associated significantly with male gender, older age, nuclear family and presence of TV in bedroom. Eating meals while watching TV was reported by 68% and 8% had >1 TV. Parental TV time >2hrs/day was associated with excess TV viewing in children, while parental rules decreased this time. Family income, parental education and working status of mother had no significant relation with TV viewing.
Conclusion: Parental factors are most important modifiable variables affecting child's TV viewing. Therefore, parent oriented interventions should be designed to develop healthy TV viewing in children.

Key words: School children, television, parents, screen time