Electronic Device Usage During COVID-19 and Suspected Developmental Delay in Rural Thai Children: A Case-Control Study

The COVID-19 pandemic has significantly altered the way in which people interact with and use technology, particularly in early childhood. This study investigated the relationship between electronic device usage during the COVID-19 pandemic in rural Thailand and suspected developmental delay (SDD) in early childhood. A case-control study aimed to investigate the relationship between suspected SDD and electronic device usage among children aged 2–5 and their primary caregivers in Chiang Rai province, Thailand. The cases were children with SDD, whereas the controls were children with age-appropriate development. The Developmental Surveillance and Promotion Manual (DSPM) and the Screen Media Exposure (SME) questionnaire were used to assess electronic device usage factors among a group of 150 children and their caregivers. Data were collected between March and July 2022. A total of 50 cases and 100 controls were included. Smartphone usage, the onset of screen use, and daily screen time were identified as significant electronic usage factors on SDD in early childhood. Conversely, co-viewing by caregivers was a protective factor for SDD in early childhood. Given the developmental risks associated with early screen exposure, electronic media use is discouraged before age two and should be limited to less than two hours daily thereafter, with targeted interventions to support healthy media habits.