COVID-19 pandemic: consequences of overexposure to the use of information and communication technologies

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.19136/hs.a23n1.5685

Abstract

Objective: We aimed to analyze the association between overexposure to the use of ICT with the perception on healthy lifestyles and mental health before and during the pandemic.

Materials and methods: We conducted a quantitative and retrospective cohort study on students from 3 high schools, located in the Gulf of Mexico, who were surveyed using an online questionnaire. Descriptive statistics, such as measures of central tendency and dispersion, were used to analyze the results. Also, statistical techniques were used for related samples to specify changes occurred before and during the pandemic. The Odds Ratio and its 95% confidence intervals were calculated to identify the association between overexposure to the use of ICT with healthy lifestyles and mental health.

Results: 432 students were included in our study. Most of them were female (66.7%), (62.7%) were studying the second semester, aged 15 (39.4%) to 16 (35.6%) years. Regarding the use of ICT, we found that before the pandemic more than 50% of the responses pointed out a normal use, but during the pandemic the use of various devices increased. Concerning the association between overexposure to the use of ICT and mental health, in this case depression, we found that before the pandemic students had almost 2.9 times the chance of developing depression if they had been overexposure to the use of ICT. These possibilities increased almost 7.2 times during the pandemic.

Conclusions: Further research is mandatory to explore the mental health of adolescents, since during the COVID-19 pandemic important changes occurred, including those changes inherent to the stage they are undergoing.

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Author Biographies

María Cristina Ortiz-León, Institute of Public Health/University Veracruzana

Doctor in Health Sciences from the Universidad Veracruzana. She is a researcher at the Institute of Public Health of the Universidad Veracruzana, she is part of the Basic Academic Nucleus, in which she teaches the subjects of Professional Practice and Mobile Health. In addition, she has directed various theses related to the application of Information and Communication Technologies in Public Health. She has published various original articles in indexed journals as corresponding author and co-author on the application of information and communication technologies applied to public health. She belongs to the National System of Researchers CONAHCYT, Level 1 and has recognition from the Program for Teacher Professional Development (PRODEP).

Rebeca Guadalupe Gómez-Ramos, Master in Public Health, Universidad Veracruzana

Medical surgeon graduated from the Faculty of Medicine of the Universidad Veracruzana, Master in Public Health from the Institute of Public Health of the Universidad Veracruzana.

Vianey Guadalupe Arguelles-Nava, Veracruz University

Graduate in nutrition, master in public health, doctorate in psychology from the Universidad Veracruzana, with 10 years of experience in teaching at undergraduate and graduate levels, co-author in national and international publications on analysis of the health situation in populations with emphasis on associated psychosocial factors to the prevention of nutritional problems with different outcomes and some communicable diseases in adolescents, adults and higher education workers.

Javier López-Zetina, California State University, Long Beach, Department of Health Science.

(Ph.D., University of Texas – School of Public Health) funge como Profesor Asociado en el Departamento de Ciencias de la Salud en la Universidad Estatal de California de Long Beach. El Dr. López-Zetina es un epidemiólogo que se especializa en salud internacional, la epidemiología de enfermedades infecciosas y estudios transfronterizos sobre la adición a sustancias de uso ilícito. Sus trabajos de investigación han sido publicados en Infectious Diseases, Addiction, Health and Place, and the American Journal of Epidemiology.

Patricia Pavón-León, Institute of Health Sciences, Universidad Veracruzana

Surgeon from the Universidad Veracruzana, Master in Administration in Health Systems and Doctor in Health Sciences from the Universidad Veracruzana. Researcher and teacher at the Institute of Health Sciences (ICS) of the Universidad Veracruzana. Development of various projects, thesis advice and publications of scientific articles in the research area of health systems and addictions. With recognition as Professor with a Desirable Profile from the Teaching Professional Development Program of the Ministry of Public Education and member of the National System of Researchers Level 1 by the National Council of Science and Technology. Research Line “Study of the social determinants of health in the area of aging and addictions.”

Christian Soledad Ortiz-Chacha, Institute of Public Health, Universidad Veracruzana

Graduate in Sociology, with a Master's Degree in Public Health and a Doctorate in Health Sciences from the Universidad Veracruzana (UV). She is a full-time researcher at the Institute of Public Health, Universidad Veracruzana. With PROMEP Profile, SNI Level I Researcher; lines of research Systems and services for women's health and vulnerable groups; Evaluation of public policies. She has teaching and research experience, with publications around her lines of research, and supervision of undergraduate and graduate theses. Member of the Academic Body Analysis of the Health Situation of the Institute of Public Health and collaborator of the Food and Nutritional Safety Research group of the UV; Member of the Research Ethics Committee of the Institute of Public Health of the Universidad Veracruzana; Member of the Research Committee of the State Cancer Center (CeCan) of the State of Veracruz; Experience in teaching, project evaluation, review of articles for publications. Member of the Observatory of Medical Education and Human Rights (OBEME) of the ISP-UV, member of the Committee for a Safe Motherhood of Veracruz; member of the Mexican Society of Public Health and the Veracruz Society of Public Health; associate of the National Academy of Evaluators of Mexico (ACEVAL).

Published

2024-01-30

How to Cite

Ortiz-León, M. C., Gómez-Ramos, R. G., Arguelles-Nava, V. G., López-Zetina, J., Pavón-León, P., & Ortiz-Chacha, C. S. (2024). COVID-19 pandemic: consequences of overexposure to the use of information and communication technologies. Horizonte Sanitario, 23(1), 119-128. https://doi.org/10.19136/hs.a23n1.5685

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Section

Research article