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

Prevalencia de constipación autorreferido en adultos de la población general

Abstracts

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.

Constipation; Prevalence; Epidemiology; Nursing; Cross-Sectional Studies