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Disturbed sleep: effects of sociocultural factors and illness
R J Rona1, L Li, M C Gulliford
1Division of Public Health Sciences, UMDS, St Thomas' Hospital, London.
Insights
Childhood sleep disturbances affect 4% of 5-year-olds, decreasing with age. Risk factors include wheezing, ethnicity, and lower maternal education, highlighting sociocultural influences on pediatric sleep health.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Sleep Medicine
- Public Health
- Epidemiology
Background:
- Sleep disturbances are common in childhood.
- Understanding prevalence and risk factors is crucial for early intervention.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the prevalence of sleep disturbance in English and Scottish children.
- To identify associated risk factors, including demographic, socioeconomic, and health-related variables.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of sleep patterns in a large cohort of 14,372 children.
- Statistical analysis, including odds ratios and confidence intervals, to assess risk factors.
Main Results:
- Prevalence of disturbed sleep was 4% at age 5, decreasing to 1% by age 9.
- Significant associations found with persistent wheezing (OR 4.42), Indian subcontinent descent (OR 2.20), and maternal primary education (OR 2.41).
- Less than 25% of parents sought medical consultation for affected children.
Conclusions:
- Childhood sleep disturbance is linked to respiratory illness and specific sociocultural factors.
- Ethnicity and socioeconomic status are important considerations in pediatric sleep disorders.
- Low rates of medical consultation suggest a need for increased awareness and accessibility of care.
Abstract:
To assess the prevalence of sleep disturbance and associated risk factors, sleep patterns were analysed in 14,372 English and Scottish children. Approximately 4% of children aged 5 experienced disturbed sleep more than once a week, but this decreased to 1% from age 9. Less than 25% of the parents with an affected child consulted a doctor. Sleep disturbance was associated with persistent wheezing compared to non-wheezing children (odds ratio 4.42; 95% confidence interval (CI) 3.17 to 6.13), and more frequent in children of Indian subcontinent descent than in white children (odds ratio 2.20; 95% CI 1.34 to 3.60), and in children whose mother reached no more than primary education compared with those with higher education (odds ratio 2.41; 95% CI 1.51 to 3.84). Sociocultural factors associated with ethnicity and respiratory illness are important risk factors for sleeping disorders in childhood.