Sleep characteristics in Brazilian children and adolescents: a population-based study

To evaluate sleep characteristics in Brazilian children and adolescents aged 0-19 years and determine the prevalence of sleep disturbances (SDs) and their association with regional differences and socioeconomic status (SES).

The target population was divided into three age groups: 0-3 years, 4-12 years, and 13-19 years. An online questionnaire based on Brazilian versions of instruments for sleep assessment was made available to participants from 2014 to 2017. Sleep habits were characterized following the recommendations of the instruments and of the National Sleep Foundation. Data were evaluated by bivariate analyses and logistic regression analyses (p ≤ 0.05).

A total of 1180 respondents were included, representative of all Brazilian regions and SES levels. Inadequate bedtime habits and total sleep time below the recommended levels were observed in all age groups. Overall SD prevalence was 25.5%. Increased risk of SDs was associated with a current health problem in children aged 0-3 years, with hospitalization after birth and sleeping in parents' bed in children aged 4-12 years, and with medication use and playing video games/using the cell phone before sleep in adolescents. There was no significant difference in SD rates between the regions. There was an increased risk of SDs in children with low SES (0-3 years), lower middle SES (4-12 years), and high SES (13-19 years).

Brazilian children and adolescents overall present inadequate sleep habits and sleep duration lower than recommended. SDs increased with age, reaching a peak in adolescence, with an influence of SES on these disturbances.