Risk Factors for Functional Constipation in Young Children Attending Daycare Centers

Abstract

Our objective was to determine the risk factors associated with the development of functional constipation (FC) in young children attending daycare centers. A cross-sectional survey using a questionnaire based on the Rome III criteria was conducted in children aged 25 to 84 months from 3 randomly selected daycare centers in January 2016. The items in a questionnaire were statistically compared in the constipated and non-constipated groups. A total of 212 children were included and FC was found in 8.5%. Multivariate logistic regression analyses revealed that maternal history of constipation (odds ratio [OR] = 4.1, 95% Confidence Interval [CI] 1.2-13.9), history of painful defecation before age 1 (OR = 10.4, 95% CI 1.1-101.3), history of painful defecation during toilet training (OR = 28.9, 95% CI 1.9-423.8), no or difficult defecation at a daycare center (OR = 5,804.6, 95% CI 134.4-250,718.4), no meat consumption (OR = 10.1, 95% CI 1.2-88.1), and 500 mL or less of water intake per day (OR = 9.9, 95% CI 0.9-99.5) were powerful predictors of FC in young children (P < 0.05). Additionally, the constipated group was significantly associated with 2 hours or less of outdoor play activities per day, entry into daycare centers before 24 months age, 6 hours or more of attendance at a daycare center per day, breastfeeding for less than 6 months, 3 meals or less per day, and 3 or fewer servings of fruits and vegetables per day (P < 0.05). The findings of this study can guide parents, daycare teachers, and clinicians in prevention, early recognition and early intervention for the risk factors associated with FC in young children.

Prevalence and Factors Associated With Functional Constipation Among Children Attending Well Baby Clinic in Aladel Primary Health Care Center in Makkah Al-Mukarramah, 2016, Cross Sectional.

“…This finding agrees with that reported in other studies carried out in Colombia, (11) Korea (15) and USA (13) . However, it is not in line with other studies that showed gender predominance, in Southern India (10) , there was female predominance.…”

“…In the current study, mother's level of education was not significantly associated with functional constipation and this is agree with Minkyu Park et al's study (15) . Also, the numbers of siblings was not significantly associated with functional constipation which is the same as Minkyu Park et al's finding (15) .…”

“…This may be because the parents were more concerned about bowel habits during younger age group and cease to be a priority to parents/child as they become older (10) .In the present study, there was no age difference regarding the prevalence of functional constipation. This finding is in line with a study that was done in Korea (15) .…”

“…Also, the numbers of siblings was not significantly associated with functional constipation which is the same as Minkyu Park et al's finding (15) . However, Ashishchogle et al reported that the prevalence of functional gastrointestinal disorders was high in children who were being the only child in the family (11) .…”

“…In Colombia, the mean age of children was 19.3±15.3 months (11) . In Korea, the mean age was 54.5±15.1 months (15) .In another study that was carried out in Korea, the mean age was 60.5±41.8 months (14) while in Iran the mean age was 5±3.12 years (17) . It has been documented that in general population, nearly 75% of those who experienced functional constipation were between the ages 5-10 years.…”