title: Constipation in Australian women: prevalence and associated factors.
abstract: A postal health survey was completed by 14761 young women (aged 18-23 years), 14070 middle-aged women (45-50 years) and 12893 older women (70-75 years). The prevalence of constipation was 14.1% (CI 13.5-14.7) in young women, 26.6% (CI 25.9-27.4) in middle-aged women, and 27% (CI 26.9-28.5) in the older women. The prevalence of hemorrhoids was 3.2% (CI 2.9-3.4 young), 17.7% (CI 17.1-18.4 middle-aged) and 18.3% (CI 17.6-19.0 older). In the middle-aged and older women, those who reported previous gynecologic surgery were between 18% and 63% more likely to report constipation; in the younger cohort, women with one or two children were also more likely to report constipation (adjusted OR 1.43-1.46). One-third of the young women and half the middle-aged and older women had sought help for constipation; the majority indicated that they were satisfied with the help available to them.
authors.affiliation: University of Newcastle, Callaghan, New South Wales, Australia.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Chiarelli
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Brown
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: McElduff
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001315:Australia / Q000453:epidemiology; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003248:Constipation / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008875:Middle Aged; D017773:Pelvic Floor / Q000503:physiopathology; D012307:Risk Factors