Constipation: Prevalence and Associated Factors in Adults Living in Londrina, Southern Brazil.
The aims of this study were to estimate the prevalence of constipation and identify associated factors among adults living in an urban area in Londrina, Brazil. This was a secondary analysis of an epidemiological, population-based study on bowel habit performed in 2008 with 2,162 individuals selected through cluster sampling. Interviews were administered using a sociodemographic questionnaire and the adapted and validated Brazilian version of the "Bowel Function in the Community" tool. Variables from the original database were used to determine the prevalence of constipation (according to the Rome Criteria III) and associated factors. The chi-square test and multivariate logistic regression were used for data analysis. The overall prevalence of constipation (14.6%; n = 315) was higher among women than among men (21.9% vs. 5.3%), increased with age among men, and was inversely related to family income. Overall, female gender, low socioeconomic status, history of anal fissure, anorectal surgery, stroke, nervous system disease, fistulae, and hemorrhoids were factors significantly associated with constipation. The variables low social economic status, stroke, anal fissure history, and anorectal surgery were statistically significant in all three tested statistical models.
Fernanda Mateus Queiroz Schmidt, MSN, RN, CWOCN (TiSOBEST), is Adjunct Professor of the Department of Nursing, Federal Institute of Education, Science and Technology of South of Minas Gerais-IFSULDEMINAS, Passos, Minas Gerais, Brazil. Vera Lúcia Conceição de Gouveia Santos, PhD, MSN, RN, CWOCN (TiSOBEST), is Associate Professor of Medical-Surgical Nursing Department, School of Nursing, University of São Paulo (EE-USP), São Paulo, SP, Brazil. Rita de Cássia Domansky, PhD, MSN, RN, CWOCN (TiSOBEST), is Enterostomal Therapist, State University of Londrina (UEL), Londrina, PR, Brazil. José Marcio Jorge Neves, PhD, MD, is Associate Professor, Department of Gastroenterology, Division of Colorectal Surgery, University of São Paulo (USP), São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
Fernanda Mateus Queiroz
FM
Schmidt
Vera Lúcia Conceição
VL
de Gouveia Santos
Rita
R
de Cássia Domansky
José Marcio Jorge
JM
Neves
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D003248:Constipation / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D012737:Sex Factors; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D055815:Young Adult