Comparison of the Frequency of Functional Constipation among Syrian and Turkish Primary School Children Living in Turkey’s Southeast

Abstract

Purpose: Functional constipation is a frequent gastrointestinal problem in childhood. Although the etiology is multifactorial, stres plays a major role in primary school children. The objective of this study is to compare the frequency of functional constipation among Syrian children who were exposed to stressful experiences and Turkish children. Material and Methods: The sociodemographic data of children between the ages of 6 and 10 who admitted to pediatric surgery and child health clinics of our hospital between September 2017 and August 2019 were retrospectively analyzed. A total of 332 Syrian and 413 Turkish children was included. Data collection forms consisting of three parts were created. In the first part, age, gender, height, weight, eating habits, maternal education level, economic status of the family, and family history of constipation were evaluated. In the second and third sections, the criteria of Rome IV and using school toilet were questioned. Families were personally contacted via phone by two nurses independent of the study, and data collection forms were filled. Results: The frequencies of functional constipation in Syrian and Turkish children were 23.7%, and 18.8%, respectively. There were no statistically significant differences between the Syrian and Turkish children in terms of age, gender, body mass index, family history of constipation and eating habits. Statistically significant differences were determined between Turkish and Syrian children with regard to parent education level (p<0.05). Conclusion: Syrian children who were exposed to stressful events and Turkish children showed no differences in terms of the frequency of functional constipation.

Keywords

• Functional constipation
• functional constipation etiology
• Rome IV criteria

Türkiye’nin Güneydoğu Anadolu Bölgesinde Yaşayan Suriyeli ve Türkiyeli İlkokul Çocuklarında Fonksiyonel Kabızlık Sıklığının Karşılaştırılması

Abstract

Amaç: Fonksiyonel kabızlık çocuklarda en sık görülen gastrointestinal patolojilerden biridir. Etiyolojisi multifaktöriyel olmasına rağmen ilkokul çocuklarında stresin rolü büyüktür. Bu çalışmanın amacı stresli yaşam olaylarına maruz kalmış Suriyeli göçmen ve Türkiyeli çocuklarda fonksiyonel kabızlık sıklığını karşılaştırmaktır. Araçlar ve Yöntem: Çalışmada Eylül 2017 – Ağustos 2019 tarihleri arasında hastanemizin çocuk cerrahisi ve çocuk sağlığı polikliniğine başvuran 6-10 yaş aralığındaki çocukların sosyodemografik verileri retrospektif olarak incelendi. Çalışmaya 332 Suriyeli ve 413 Türkiyeli çocuk dahil edildi. Üç bölümden oluşan veri toplama formları oluşturuldu. İlk bölümde yaş, cinsiyet, boy, kilo, beslenme alışkanlığı, anne eğitim düzeyi, ailenin ekonomik durumu, ailede kabızlık varlığı değerlendirildi. İkinci ve üçüncü bölümde Roma IV kriterleri ve okul tuvaletinin kullanılması sorgulandı. Veri toplama formları çalışmadan bağımsız iki hemşire tarafından ailelere telefonla ulaşılarak dolduruldu. Bulgular: Fonksiyonel kabızlık sıklığı Suriyeli göçmen çocuklarda %23,7, Türkiyeli çocuklarda ise %18,8 idi (p>0,05). Suriyeli ve Türkiyeli çocuklar arasında yaş, cinsiyet, vücut kitle indeksi, ailede kabızlık öyküsü, beslenme alışkanlıkları açısından istatistiksel anlamlı farklılık yoktu (p>0,05). Suriyeli ve Türkiyeli çocuklar arasında ebeveyn eğitim düzeyi açısından istatistiksel anlamlı farklık saptandı (p<0,05). Sonuç: Stresli yaşam olaylarına maruz kalmış Suriyeli çocuklar ile Türkiyeli çocuklar arasında fonksiyonel kabızlık sıklığı açısından farklılık yoktur.

Keywords

• Fonksiyonel kabızlık
• Fonksiyonel kabızlık etiyolojisi
• Roma IV kriterleri

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