Prevalence of Text Neck Syndrome in Children and Adolescents Using Smartphones in Erbil City

Abstract

Background: Neck and shoulder pain is a common health issue among children and teenagers in developing countries. Objective: This study aimed to identify the prevalence of text neck syndrome and its associated factors in children and adolescents. Materials and Methods: In this cross-sectional study, children and adolescents who attended primary health centers (PHCs) along with their parents were included. Four main PHCs in Erbil city in Iraqi Kurdistan in 2022 were selected for this study. Results: The prevalence of text neck pain was 69.0% among children. The level of neck disability score was 17.15 out of 21 among children. Adolescents (96.05%) those who used smartphones >3 h (83.56%), those studying secondary level (94.24%), and those with psychological, social, and physical functions and children who slept less, played fewer sports, used more computers, watched more TV, and played the game more than 3 h were more likely to have text neck syndrome. The study showed that children who spent more time on smartphones, watching TV, playing games, and those with physical and social functions had a high level of neck disability. Conclusion: This study found a high prevalence of text neck syndrome among schoolchildren in this region. The high prevalence of text neck syndrome was associated with more using smartphones and watching TV and a high prevalence of physical, psychological, and social issues.