[School bathrooms: children's perceptions and prevalence of gastrointestinal and urinary disorders, a survey in 3 secondary schools near Saint-Etienne].
BACKGROUND
Irregular use of toilets can contribute to urinary and gastrointestinal disorders. The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence of gastrointestinal and urinary symptoms among a secondary school teenage population and to evaluate their perception and use of school toilets.


METHODS
791 adolescents aged 12 to 16 filled in an anonymous questionnaire, which was administered in three secondary schools near Saint-Etienne, France.


RESULTS
22% reported abdominal pain at least once a week during the past two months and 26% experienced abdominal pain about once every month. 9% of schoolchildren suffered from urinary incontinence at least once during the two months before the study: 4% of boys and 13% of girls. Children had a negative perception of school toilets: 62% didn't feel safe and 54% of boys reported a lack of privacy. 34% of students avoided school toilets: 21% never used them to urinate and 85% never used them to defecate. 28% of children acknowledged they had experienced abdominal pain because they couldn't use school toilets and 29% said that they had experienced poor concentration as a result of their pain.


CONCLUSIONS
Abdominal pain and urinary disorders are common among secondary schoolchildren. Stool and urine withholding behaviours are be widespread and affect students' concentration while at school.
Bénédicte
B
Hoarau
Paul
P
Vercherin
Christophe
C
Bois
D015746:Abdominal Pain / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D005602:France / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D018907:Privacy; D012449:Safety; D012574:Schools; D013334:Students / Q000523:psychology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014038:Toilet Facilities; D014555:Urination Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*