Volume 07 Issue 02 February 2019 Hits: 1656

Title: Pattern of Internet use and associated factors among adolescents of Rewa City: A Community based Study

Authors: Dr Neera Marathe, Dr Achla Jain

 DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.18535/jmscr/v7i2.142

Abstract

Introduction: Internet is considered as the greatest breakthrough of the century. Although people in all segments of the society use the Internet, especially adolescents are the most frequent users and thus more vulnerable to IA. This research paper explores the prevalence and pattern of internet use among adolescents of Rewa city.

Material and Method: This cross sectional community based study was carried out in Rewa city from January to December 2018. sample size  estimated was 418. A multistage random sampling procedure was adopted. 47 subjects of 10 to 19 years age group were selected by simple random sampling from each ward. Thus 423 subjects who gave informed consent and who have been using internet for at least for 3 months were included in the study. Information was collected for sociodemographic variables   and pattern of internet usage like purpose, place of access, time, duration per day, money spent per month. Internet addiction test scale developed by Dr. Kimberly Young was used to assess internet addiction.

Percentages and proportion were used .Chi square test of significance was used to find out the association between Internet addiction and variables.

Results: 45.4% were normal users, 32.1% had a mild IA, 22.5% had a moderate addiction but none had severe addiction. Among 423 study subjects 42.8% were females and 57.2% were males The majority of study subjects were in the age group of 16 – 19 years. 67.4%have attained middle school education. Father of 56.2% study subjects had completed Higher secondary education. Significant association was found between Internet addiction and male gender, increasing age, higher education level, father’s education and occupation, nuclear family, staying alone/with friends. Access of internet at home and cyber cafe in Evening and night hours, more than 300 INR/month spent on internet were found to have significant association with Internet addiction. No association was found between duration of internet use and Mother’ education and occupation. Academic purpose (74.9%) followed by Social networking (67.8%) was the reasons revealed by study subjects for internet use.

Conclusion: This study’s results shows that Internet addiction is a growing public health issue in terms of its prevalence.  Internet is becoming an inclusive part of an individual’s life.

Keywords: Internet addiction, internet, Young’s IAT, India.

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