Screen time between Portuguese and Brazilian children: a cross-cultural study

Abstract

-Aims:To verify differences in screen time (ST) (hours watching TV, using computer and/or video game) and to compare the percentage of meeting ST recommendation between Portuguese and Brazilian children. Methods: The sample comprised 369 children aged 9 year-old from Portugal (n=95) and Brazil (n=274). ST average (h/day), physical activity (PA) and socioeconomic status (SES) were estimated by parental-report questionnaire. The Student t test or the Mann-Whitney U test and binary logistic regression analysis were used to verify differences and associations on ST (<2h/day) between cities. All analyses were stratified by gender and adjusted for age, BMI, PA and SES. Results: The prevalence of meet ST recommendation was 66.7% and 55.3% between Portuguese girls and boys and 25.0% and 16.4%between Brazilian girls and boys. Portuguese girls (1.58±0.84vs3.40 ± 1.76h/day, p<0.05) and boys (1.74 ± 1.18 vs 4.20 ± 2.30 h/day, p<0.05) had significantly less ST than their Brazilian counterparts. Brazilian girls (OR=7.593; p=0.0001) as well as Brazilian boys (OR=6.564; p=0.0001) were more likely to do not meet ST recommendation, compared with their Portuguese counterparts. Conclusions: Portuguese children were approximately seven times more likely to meet ST recommendation than Brazilian children. Differences between countries should be considered in public policy strategies to reduce ST.

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