“Sleeping Disorder Among Children Under 15 Years Of Age Due To Usage Of Mobile Phones In Karachi, Sindh, Pakistan”

Abstract

Objectives: The study aims to determine the association between sleeping disorders and mobile phone usage among children under 15 years of age in Karachi, Pakistan.

Methods: The community-based observational cross-sectional study is conducted in Clifton, Karachi, Pakistan. A sample of 492 children was included in the study using simple random sampling in the schools of the study area. The data was collected on a structured questionnaire during a face-to-face interview with parents of under 15 years children and after the reopening of the school the interviews from students in schools in the study area. The data were entered, cleaned, and analyzed in SPSS version 25 software. The bivariate analysis was carried out to find out the association between the dependent and independent variables, and regression is used to control the confounding effects at a 95% confidence interval.

Results: The result showed that 56.9% of children having sleeping disorders and children using a mobile phone are 2.46 times higher at risk of sleeping disorders. The study also revealed that children who own mobile phones are 3.7 times more at risk of a sleeping disorder. The children who prefer to play outside were 19% less at risk of a sleeping disorder.

Conclusion: The research has concluded that children under the age of 15 with habitual mobile phone usage are found to suffer from one or more types of sleeping disorders. From hours of sleeping in the daytime to insomnia, all these symptoms have been considered among the leading sleeping disorders among children who have been using mobile phones excessively. The problem is significant as it is impacting child physical health and they are facing health challenges of obesity.