Exploring Community Perspectives on Functional Paediatric Habitual Constipation

Nawaf Al Khashram (), Ahmad A. Al Abdulqader, Haytham Mohammed Alarfaj, Mohammed Saad Bu Bshait, Ahmed Hassan Kamal, Ossama M. Zakaria, Mohammed Nasser Albarqi, Mohannad Adnan Almulhim, Mazin Abdulwahab Almousa and Abdullah Almaqhawi
Additional contact information
Nawaf Al Khashram: Department of Biomedical Sciences, College of Medicine, King Faisal University, Al Hofuf P.O. Box 400, Saudi Arabia
Ahmad A. Al Abdulqader: Departments of Surgery, College of Medicine, King Faisal University, Al Hofuf P.O. Box 400, Saudi Arabia
Haytham Mohammed Alarfaj: Departments of Surgery, College of Medicine, King Faisal University, Al Hofuf P.O. Box 400, Saudi Arabia
Mohammed Saad Bu Bshait: Departments of Surgery, College of Medicine, King Faisal University, Al Hofuf P.O. Box 400, Saudi Arabia
Ahmed Hassan Kamal: Departments of Surgery, College of Medicine, King Faisal University, Al Hofuf P.O. Box 400, Saudi Arabia
Ossama M. Zakaria: Departments of Surgery, College of Medicine, King Faisal University, Al Hofuf P.O. Box 400, Saudi Arabia
Mohammed Nasser Albarqi: Department of Family and Community Medicine, College of Medicine, King Faisal University, Al Hofuf P.O. Box 400, Saudi Arabia
Mohannad Adnan Almulhim: College of Medicine, King Faisal University, Al Hofuf P.O. Box 400, Saudi Arabia
Mazin Abdulwahab Almousa: College of Medicine, King Faisal University, Al Hofuf P.O. Box 400, Saudi Arabia
Abdullah Almaqhawi: Department of Family and Community Medicine, College of Medicine, King Faisal University, Al Hofuf P.O. Box 400, Saudi Arabia

IJERPH, 2024, vol. 21, issue 8, 1-15

Abstract: (1) Background: Functional habitual constipation (FC) in children is a common gastrointestinal problem. This study aimed to explore the local community’s view on this problem, emphasising the challenges that parents face in managing the condition and its impact on the child’s quality of life. (2) Methods: A prospective, cross-sectional, community-based study was conducted between March and July 2023. The survey received 933 responses. The target population was adults over 18 years of age living in the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia. An electronically distributed questionnaire was designed in the Arabic language. (3) Results: The mean knowledge scores were significantly higher in females than males, with t (931) = −2.701 and p = 0.007. The Bonferroni post hoc test results indicated that participants between 20 and 29 years exhibited significantly higher levels of knowledge scores compared to those between 30 and 39 years. Furthermore, the results revealed that those with three or more children had significantly higher knowledge scores compared to those with only one child. (4) Conclusions: This study demonstrated that parents in the local community have a good perceived knowledge of FC, but it needs to be linked with practice. They tended to report high levels of perception and demonstrated better practices. These results emphasise the importance of exploring the local community’s view on constipation among children.

Keywords: paediatrics; habitual constipation; Saudi Arabia (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2024
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