Health Profile of School Age Children Using Digital Technology in Beni-Suef City

Abstract
Background: Digital technology assumed central roles in elementary school aged childrens daily lives. Today, children have access to all types of digital technology and exceeding recommended screen time allowed for their age. Recent evidence raises concern about consequences of digital tech-nology on children bio psychosocial health profile.
Aim of Study: This study aimed to assess bio-psycho-social health profile of school age children (9-15 yrs old) using digital technology in Beni-Suef City. A descriptive research design was utilized.
Subjects and Methods: Setting the study was conducted at four official experimental schools in Beni-Suef City. A systematic random sample of 240 elementary school students was selected. Two tools were used to collect data, the first tool includes 4 parts asking about demographic and personal data, child physical health profile, child psychosocial health profile, scholastic and sporting activities. Second tool, digital technology usage data includes 5 parts, digital technology ownership, preferable types, pattern, screen time and activities of digital technology used by students.
Results: Revealed that 52.5% of students aged from 12- 15 years old, while 77.5% of them didn't participate in sporting activities. Additionally, revealed that students have complained of physical symptoms ranked gradually as digestive symptom, musculoskeletal symptoms, neurological symptoms, and ophthalmological symptoms (93.3%, 83.75%, 81.25%, 56.25%) respectively. Moreover, 33.8% of them were over-weight and 32.6% of them were obese. Additionally students have complained of psychosocial health problems ranked gradually as mild/moderate symptoms of aggressive behavior, anxiety behavior, and loneliness behavior and of ADHD behavior. (61.5%, 37.9%, 36.6%, 30.8%) respectively. Fur-thermore, screen time among students was 6 to less than 10 hours per day among 48.3% of students. There was a highly statistical significance relationship between types of digital technology, screen time and bio-psycho-social health problems reported by elementary school students.
The study concluded that students aged between (9-15) years old have bio-psycho-social health problems due to misuse of digital technology usage and exceeded the recom-mended hours of screen time.
Recommendations: It is recommended to raise awareness of, students, parents, teachers about negative effect of digital technology and assist parents to set rules for controlling screen time and content of digital technology.