Health risks of school-age children with distance learning in the first months of the spread of COVID-19

According to the results of a sociological survey of 10,237 parents of schoolchildren during the period of emergency transfer of students to distance learning in the initial period of the spread of coronavirus infection, a low provision of children with technical teaching aids was revealed: only 18% of children had a stationary computer at home, 42% of children had a basic gadget available. available for training, there was a smartphone. At the same time, it was determined that children also use gadgets for a considerable time for personal purposes (entertainment, games): according to 17% of parents, 3-4 hours, and 8% of parents answered - more than 5 hours a day. However, most parents are not aware of the amount of time a child spends with a gadget due to their busy schedule. A significant number of parents-respondents (16.5%) pointed to difficulties that arose during distance learning in the relationship between the child and the teacher. Only 60% of the parents surveyed indicated that the child sits at the table while working with the gadget, 24% - the child is more likely to sit in an armchair or on the sofa, 16% - more often the child is in the «reclining» position on the sofa or bed. All this determines the health risks of students and indicates the need to develop skills and ways to level them. Taking into account the fact that all participants in the educational process have to face the problems that have arisen during distance learning: students, their parents and teachers, recommendations for the implementation of the general education system of medical, socio-psychological support of students and their families, operational collection data to ensure a quick response, which is possible only by means of technologically modern information systems for medical, social and psychological purposes.