Prevalence of exposure to violent video games and media among primary school children in Baghdad city

Abstract

Background: Daily exposed of children to violence portrayed in videogames and TV shows consider as a general public alarm.
Objective: to determine the prevalence of children’s exposure to violent video games and media in a sample of primary school children in Baghdad city.
Methods: study was conducted in Baghdad city during the period from the first of February through December 2015. A multistage probability sampling was adopted to collect 1000 student from 55 primary school. Information about favorite video games played and TV programs shows were taken through direct interview with each child. 
Results: the prevalence of playing video games was 94.6%, number of boys who said that they play electronic games was 664 (97.4 % of all boys) and girls 282 (88.7% of all girls) regarding (days of playing games); 64.8 % of the children were playing daily, 2.2% were playing two or three times, 3.7% once a week, 18.5% at weekend, and 8.6% play only during holidays (midyear and summer holiday). Most popular and favorite video games that played by 47.6% of boys was found to be of violent type (Grand Thief Auto GTA, open world action games) while in girls’ non-violent, simulation games (Girl games) was found in higher percentage (25.1%). Action movies reported as the favorite TVs scenes in boys and Indian drama series as the most favorites in girls.
More than half of children under study were reported playing violent games and watch violent TV Boys prefer to play violent games more than girls. GTA, Call of duty and counter were their   favorite’s games.
Conclusion: violent video games and TV programs were prevalent among primary school children.