[Pattern of internet use in high school students and its safety in Tehran]

ABSTRACT

Internet is one of the most important tools to information access. Pattern of internet use in high school students and its safety in Tehran was studied. By stratified sampling all of 19 education districts were divided to three areas [North, Centre, and South]. A cross-sectional study was conducted on 552 subjects according to subjects' distribution in each region. Questionnaire was validated by content validity and reliable by test- re- test. Trained interviewers collected data after provided written informed consent. Mean age of subjects was 16.4 +/- 1.704,range [14-19] years. Pattern of internet use showed that the most usable cite was music [45.3%] and favorite cites was image [41.7%] among subjects.43% of subject were familiar to ban cites. Among 70/I% of subjects place of internet was at personal room and its location was at home [67.2%]. 28.3% of subject used from internet at night and chat room and filter breaker. A significant difference was observed in filter breaker using and banned cite among boys 43.3% than the girls 3l% and in internet using and eye pain among girls 18.1% than the boys 12.7% [p<0.001]. Near to half of subject were familiar to ban cite. According to internet using pattern received of pornographic pictures or other ban cites was probably. Safety of internet using needs to more attention by family and community