Revista da Escola de Enfermagem da USP ()

Prevalence of self-reported constipation in adults from the general population

  • Fernanda Mateus Queiroz Schmidt,
  • Vera Lúcia Conceição de Gouveia Santos,
  • Rita de Cássia Domansky,
  • Elaine Barros,
  • Mariana Alves Bandeira,
  • Mariana Alves de Melo Tenório,
  • José Marcio Neves Jorge

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1590/S0080-623420150000300012
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 49, no. 3
pp. 440 – 449

Abstract

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OBJECTIVE To estimate the prevalence of self-reported constipation and associated factors in the general population of a Brazilian city. METHOD Secondary analysis of an epidemiological study, population-based, cross-sectional study, about bowel habits of Brazilian population. A total of 2,162 individuals were interviewed using two instruments: sociodemographic data and the adapted and validated Brazilian version of the "Bowel Function in the Community" tool. RESULTS There was a prevalence of 25.2% for the self-reported constipation, 37.2% among women and 10.2% among men. Stroke and old age were associated with constipation in the three statistical models used. CONCLUSION The prevalence found showed to be similar to the findings in the literature, although some associated factors obtained here have never been investigated.

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