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.(AU)

Parental education and perception of outdoor playing time for preschoolers

Abstract Aim: The objective of this study was to analyze whether or not socioeconomic positions influence outdoor playtime during the week (WK) and on the weekends (WEND). Methods: The sample consisted of 485 (girls; n=223) healthy preschoolers, aged from 3 to 6 years, enrolled in kindergartens from the metropolitan area of Porto, Portugal. Physical Activity (PA) was assessed for 7 consecutive days with an accelerometer. The time playing outdoors during the WK or the WEND was reported by parents. Anthropometric data (weight and height) was collected following standardized protocols. Socioeconomic position was assessed by Parental Education (PE), according to the Portuguese education system. Results: We found differences in time spent playing outdoors either for the WK or WEND, but not for Total PA (TPA), in both sexes. However, regression analysis showed that after age adjustment, BMI and TPA for both sexes, we only found significant associations between low PE (LPE) and high PE (HPE) groups on WK or WEND. However, we found no statistically significant association for boys on the WK (p=0.06). Conclusion: Our findings suggest that socioeconomic position can influence the children's time spent in outdoor activities, especially on the weekends. This may have implications for future interventions with this age group.