LAUSR

To determine the prevalence of screen-viewing and factors affecting this behavior among children aged less than two years in Suva, Fiji. This cross-sectional study was conducted at three randomly selected maternal and child health (MCH) clinics among parents or accompanying guardians of 379 children. Data collection was carried out using a 20-item self-administrated questionnaire. The prevalence of screen-viewing in children was 66.2%. Screen-viewing was more prevalent in children aged 12–24 months (89%) than in children below 12 months (57%). The risk of screen-viewing was high among those who had parents as daytime caregivers (RR (95% CI) = 0.93 (0.82–1.04), P=0.001), iTaukei (RR (95% CI) = 0.79 (0.71–0.87), P=0.001), and children younger than 12 months (RR (95% CI) = 0.64 (0.57–0.71), (P=0.001). Results show that availability of screen devices at home is significantly related to children’s screen viewing (RR (95% CI) =1.03 (0.64–1.65), P=0.03). The study found early exposure and early adaptation to screen-viewing in children due to several determinants, and suggests the need for anticipatory guidance to parents.