JOURNAL ARTICLE
Constipation in school-aged children at public schools in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
BACKGROUND: Constipation in childhood is a significant problem worldwide; however, understanding of its epidemiology is limited. Some investigators in the United States have estimated the prevalence of constipation to be 1.2% to 8.0% in the general population. In Brazil, some have found a prevalence of up to 36%.
METHODS: This cross-sectional, descriptive, observational prevalence study included 391 pupils (age range, 8-10 years) who were attending three public education centers in Rio de Janeiro. The prevalence of constipation, associated symptoms, and dietary fiber intake were evaluated by questionnaire. A child was considered to be constipated when he or she reported difficulty in defecating two or more times per week. The children were divided into constipated and nonconstipated groups, and the presence of fecal soiling, blood in the feces, and shape of the feces were assessed.
RESULTS: Twenty-eight percent of the children were constipated. There was no significant difference between the sexes. Blood in the stools was significantly more frequently reported by the constipated children (p < 0.01). There was no significant difference in the prevalence and frequency of fecal soiling or in the stool shape between the constipated and nonconstipated children (p > 0.1). Fiber content in the diet ranged from 3.4 to 4.8 g per day, which is below the range recommended.
CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of constipation in Rio de Janeiro is similar to the rates reported in all of Brazil and in a recent study from the United Kingdom but is much higher than that in the United States. In addition, the school menu was found to contain inadequate dietary fiber content.
METHODS: This cross-sectional, descriptive, observational prevalence study included 391 pupils (age range, 8-10 years) who were attending three public education centers in Rio de Janeiro. The prevalence of constipation, associated symptoms, and dietary fiber intake were evaluated by questionnaire. A child was considered to be constipated when he or she reported difficulty in defecating two or more times per week. The children were divided into constipated and nonconstipated groups, and the presence of fecal soiling, blood in the feces, and shape of the feces were assessed.
RESULTS: Twenty-eight percent of the children were constipated. There was no significant difference between the sexes. Blood in the stools was significantly more frequently reported by the constipated children (p < 0.01). There was no significant difference in the prevalence and frequency of fecal soiling or in the stool shape between the constipated and nonconstipated children (p > 0.1). Fiber content in the diet ranged from 3.4 to 4.8 g per day, which is below the range recommended.
CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of constipation in Rio de Janeiro is similar to the rates reported in all of Brazil and in a recent study from the United Kingdom but is much higher than that in the United States. In addition, the school menu was found to contain inadequate dietary fiber content.
Full text links
Trending Papers
Oral Anticoagulation in Patients with Chronic Liver Disease.Medicina 2023 Februrary 13
Helicobacter pylori Infection: Current Status and Future Prospects on Diagnostic, Therapeutic and Control Challenges.Antibiotics 2023 January 18
Glucagon-Like Peptide 1 Receptor Agonists Versus Sodium-Glucose Cotransporter 2 Inhibitors for Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease in Patients With Type 2 Diabetes.Cardiology Research 2023 Februrary
Physical interventions to interrupt or reduce the spread of respiratory viruses.Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 2023 January 31
Fluid Resuscitation in Patients with Cirrhosis and Sepsis: A Multidisciplinary Perspective.Journal of Hepatology 2023 March 2
Evaluation and Management of Pulmonary Hypertension in Noncardiac Surgery: A Scientific Statement From the American Heart Association.Circulation 2023 March 17
Get seemless 1-tap access through your institution/university
For the best experience, use the Read mobile app
Read by QxMD is copyright © 2021 QxMD Software Inc. All rights reserved. By using this service, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy.
Get seemless 1-tap access through your institution/university
For the best experience, use the Read mobile app