Accepted for/Published in: JMIR Pediatrics and Parenting
Date Submitted: May 1, 2026
Date Accepted: Sep 14, 2026
Barriers to Reducing Children’s Screen Time and Associated Factors among Mothers of Under-five Children in Woliso City Administration, Central Ethiopia: A Community-based Cross-sectional study
ABSTRACT
Background:
Background:
Screen time is the duration spent on screen-based devices and has become a global health concern. Excessive screen time negatively impacts children's health and development; however, it has been dramatically increasing among young children. Parents are the primary entities responsible for monitoring children’s screen time. Hence, the identification of potential parental barriers and their attributes is fundamental to taking early action.
Objective:
Objective:
The study aimed to assess parental barriers and predictors in reducing excessive screen time among mothers of under-five children in Woliso City Administration, Central Ethiopia.
Methods:
Methods:
A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted from January 10 to February 30, 2024. A systematic random sampling technique was used to select 423 mothers of under-five children. EpiData version 3.1 was used for data entry, and SPSS version 20 was used for analysis. A linear regression analysis was used to identify predictors of barriers to reducing screen time. The multiple linear regression assumptions were checked, and statistical significance was declared at a p-value < 0.05 and a 95% confidence interval.
Results:
Results:
A total of 423 participants were involved in this study (a 100% response rate). The mean score of parental barriers among mothers was 4.28 1.04. Educational status of the mother (β = -0.130, 95% CI: -0.255, -0.004), child’s screen time (β = 0.369, 95% CI: 0.328, 0.409), parental attitude (β = 0.382, 95% CI: 0.264, 0.499), parental perceptions of effect of ST on cognitive wellbeing (β = 0.021, 95% CI: 0.009, 0.034), parental restrictive practice on ST (β = -0.011, 95% CI: -0.004, -0.018), and availability of public facility (β = 0.849, 95% CI: 0.759, 0.940) were shown to have significant association with parental barriers.
Conclusions:
Conclusion: The majority of mothers with under-five children experienced 4 barriers in reducing screen time. The study also identified six predictors of parental barriers, including level of education, attitudes toward screen time, restrictive practices, perception of cognitive effects, child’s screen time, and lack of public facilities. Enhancing access to public spaces, implementing educational programs, and developing community initiatives are recommended to overcome these barriers and support healthy screen habits. Clinical Trial: not applicable
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