A cross-sectional study on smartphone uses among pregnant women attending childbirth classes in the Metropolitan Area of Palermo, Italy: The Stop-Phone study

2022 · Unclear · Low evidence

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UnclearLow evidencePaper 674

A significant number of participants were suggested to have addiction to mobile phone usage but were not aware of it. 67.2% reported not changing smartphone use habits since the beginning of pregnancy, and 98.3% reported never speaking with their doctor about…

Study snapshot

Publicationmanual · 2022

Study typecross_sectional

Reported directionUnclear

Evidence ratingLow

Abstract

A cross-sectional study on smartphone uses among pregnant women attending childbirth classes in the Metropolitan Area of Palermo, Italy: The Stop-Phone study Costantino C, Mazzucco W, Bonaccorso N, Sciortino M, Cimino L, Pizzo S, Conforto A, Calò I, Giliberti D, Gambino CR, Segreto D, Maiorana A, Vitale F, Casuccio A. A cross-sectional study on smartphone uses among pregnant women attending childbirth classes in the Metropolitan Area of Palermo, Italy: The Stop-Phone study. Ann Ig. 2022 Sep 29. doi: 10.7416/ai.2022.2543. Abstract Background: Prevalence of mobile device addiction has increased over the years; both women and men have assimilated the mobile phone as a central component of their personal existence: integrating it into their lifestyle or becoming so dependent on it that life without it has become unimaginable. Smartphones generate radio-frequency electromagnetic fields. While short-term exposure in adults was considered quite safe, effects of long-term exposure or exposure during pregnancy on fetuses or during breastfeeding on newborns are not well studied yet. The objective of the present study was to investigate the prevalence and usage characteristics of smartphones among a sample of pregnant women, and promote the correct and conscious use of the smartphone. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted, with a questionnaire administered during childbirth classes and - after the questionnaire administration - an educational intervention focused on promoting the correct and conscious use of smartphones was carried out by psychologists and psychotherapists. Results: The findings of our study suggest that a significant number of the participants suffered addiction to mobile phone usage, but were not aware of it. More than two third of the sample (67.2%) have not changed their smartphone use habits since the beginning of their pregnancy and even more significant data shows that almost all future moms (98.3%) never speak with their doctor about smartphone use during pregnancy. Conclusions: Data collected suggest a lack of attention to the proposed topic, especially in relation to pregnancy. It seems necessary to sensitize future mothers on this topic. The promotion of a more conscious and controlled use of electronic devices can help reduce the radiation to which the unborn child may be exposed, but has a fundamental role even after birth, to ensure an adequate psychomotor and relational development of the child and do not affect, due to uncontrolled use of smartphones, the mother-child relationship. Open access paper: annali-igiene.it

Machine Enhanced Logic

AI evidence extraction

Structured fields below were generated from the paper’s abstract and metadata to make the evidence easier to inspect. Automated extraction may be incomplete or incorrect; verify important details against the original paper.

Study typecross_sectional

Effect directionunclear

PopulationPregnant women attending childbirth classes in the Metropolitan Area of Palermo, Italy

Sample sizeNot supplied

ExposureRF

Evidence strengthLowConfidence: 74% · Peer reviewed: yes

Main findings

Outcomes measured

Prevalence and characteristics of smartphone use during pregnancy
Mobile phone usage addiction (self-reported/assessed via questionnaire)
Whether smartphone use habits changed since beginning of pregnancy
Whether participants discussed smartphone use with their doctor during pregnancy

Limitations

Cross-sectional design
Questionnaire-based/self-reported measures
Sample limited to pregnant women attending childbirth classes in one metropolitan area

View raw extracted JSON

{
  "study_type": "cross_sectional",
  "exposure": {
    "band": "RF",
    "source": "smartphone/mobile phone",
    "frequency_mhz": null,
    "sar_wkg": null,
    "duration": null
  },
  "population": "Pregnant women attending childbirth classes in the Metropolitan Area of Palermo, Italy",
  "sample_size": null,
  "outcomes": [
    "Prevalence and characteristics of smartphone use during pregnancy",
    "Mobile phone usage addiction (self-reported/assessed via questionnaire)",
    "Whether smartphone use habits changed since beginning of pregnancy",
    "Whether participants discussed smartphone use with their doctor during pregnancy"
  ],
  "main_findings": "A significant number of participants were suggested to have addiction to mobile phone usage but were not aware of it. 67.2% reported not changing smartphone use habits since the beginning of pregnancy, and 98.3% reported never speaking with their doctor about smartphone use during pregnancy.",
  "effect_direction": "unclear",
  "limitations": [
    "Cross-sectional design",
    "Questionnaire-based/self-reported measures",
    "Sample limited to pregnant women attending childbirth classes in one metropolitan area"
  ],
  "evidence_strength": "low",
  "confidence": 0.74,
  "peer_reviewed_likely": "yes",
  "keywords": [
    "pregnancy",
    "smartphone use",
    "mobile phone addiction",
    "radio-frequency electromagnetic fields",
    "childbirth classes",
    "educational intervention",
    "Italy"
  ],
  "suggested_hubs": []
}

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AI-extracted fields are generated from the abstract and metadata and may be incomplete or incorrect. This material is for informational purposes and is not medical advice.

Identifiers and source

DOI: 10.7416/ai.2022.2543
PubMed: Not supplied

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