Children are sleep-deprived, says study

Children in India are deprived of at least three to four hours of sleep daily, when compared to their Caucasian counterparts, according to a recent sleep analysis conducted in Delhi urban by Asia Pacific Paediatric Sleep Alliance (APPSA).

Experts say that in Bangalore alone, about 25% of the children are deprived of a proper sleep, in comparison to those from the rest of the country.

Dr H Paramesh, medical and managing director, pulmonologist and environmentalist, Lakeside Medical Centre and Hospital, who conducted a study in Bangalore on sleep disorders among children, said, “Our study  has shown the sleep disordered breathing is 20% in children under three years and about 25% for children between three and six years.”

“The study also revealed that children, whose parents are from business class, IT and healthcare backgrounds, are awake till almost midnight and get a disturbed sleep,” said Paramesh.

“Sleep plays an important role in our life. It is essential for the development of our tissues, better functioning of our immune system, growth and development, good cognition and memory. Sleep disturbance causes most of the psychosocial problems.”
Analysis of children in Delhi by a questionnaire survey by APPSA revealed that Asian children usually go to bed at 10.30 pm compared to 7.30 pm in New Zealand.

However, there is no change in day time nap and midday sleep in children of various countries. It was felt that day time sleep is genetically programmed and late sleep and late rising is culturally programmed.