Socio Demographic Characteristics of Digital Technology User Preschool Children in Selected Urban Community in Dhaka City

Abstract

Background: In today's digital age, the use of technology has become increasingly prevalent even among preschool-aged children. Objective: The objective of the study was to explore the socio-demographic characteristics of preschool children who engage with digital technology in a selected urban community in Dhaka City. Methodology: A cross-sectional research study was conducted to assess digital technology usage among preschool children aged 3 to 6 years in Dhaka city, Bangladesh. The study involved the participation of 123 parents between January 2024 to November 2024 from four selected schools: YWCA Higher Secondary Girls School, Assemblies of GOD Church School, Silverdale Preparatory Girls High School, and Zamzam Point Int. School & College. Data was gathered through in-person interviews using a semi-structured questionnaire. Participants were chosen through a convenient sampling method, and ethical approval was obtained from the Institutional Review Board (IRB) of BSMMU. Results: A total of 123 parents have participated in the study. Among them, 83.7% were women and 16.3% were men.60.2% mothers were between the ages of 21 and 30, and 78% fathers were between the ages of 31 and 40 years’. 26.8% of mothers had completed H.S.C level, and 31.7% of fathers had a master's degree or more. Among the parents, 48.8% parents thought that children first used digital technology between the ages of 3 and 4 years. Conclusion: This study highlighted the growing concerns surrounding digital technology use among preschoolers in Dhaka and underscores the need for further research on its influence on young children's development.