Sleep patterns, problems, and habits in a sample of Egyptian preschoolers

Objective Sleep problems are common among preschoolers. We conducted this study to investigate sleep problems in a sample of Egyptian preschoolers attending pediatric outpatient clinics and examine the relationship between their sleep problems, patterns, and hygiene.

Methods The parents of 319 preschoolers, aged 2-5 years, completed the BEARS(which represent the fve major sleep domains, i.e., bedtime problems, excessive daytime sleepiness, awakenings during the night, regularity and duration of sleep, and snoring) questionnaire in Arabic and a short survey on their educational status, significant medical problems and/or their child’s medications , and sleeping habits.

Results The frequency of bedtime problems, excessive daytime sleepiness, awakenings during the night, regularity of sleep, and snoring were 58.9%, 17.9%, 31%, 60.5%, and 20.4%, respectively. More than a third of the samples had poor sleep hygiene practices, ranging from 41.7% to 70.5%. Multivariate analyses revealed that age and body mass index (BMI) are predictors of bedtime problems.

Conclusions Our fndings indicate that sleep problems and poor sleep hygiene are common among this sample of preschoolers. This study also suggests an association between age and BMI and sleep disturbances.

Child - Preschool - Sleep - Epidemiology

Funding

This research received no specific grant from any funding agency in the public, commercial, or not-for-profit sectors.

Research ethics and patient consent

The study was approved by the research committee at the Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, Cairo University. Ethical approval was obtained from the Institutional Review Board for Human Subject Research at Faculty of Medicine, Cairo University, Egypt (N-112-2018). Verbal consent was obtained from the parents of the children who participated in the study.

Authors’ contributions

MKA contributed to the conception, and design of this study, and wrote the final manuscript. DA performed statistical analysis. SAS collected data and contributed to the writing of the manuscript draft. HHM contributed to the writing of the manuscript draft. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.

Publication History

Received: 25 February 2021

Accepted: 22 September 2021

Article published online:
01 December 2023

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