Duration and practices of television viewing in Thai infants and toddlers.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Television viewing is discouraged in infants; however its magnitude and pattern in Thailand is still unknown MATERIAL AND METHOD: 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. CONCLUSION: Most children in this cohort were exposed to TV by three years of age.