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Daytime urinary incontinence in primary school children: a population-based survey
P Sureshkumar1, J C Craig, L P Roy
1Centre for Kidney Research, Royal Alexandra Hospital for Children, Sydney, Australia.
The Journal of Pediatrics
|December 13, 2000
Summary
Daytime urinary incontinence affects 19.2% of new primary school students. Emotional stress and family history are key risk factors, yet few families seek medical help for childhood wetting.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric urology
- Epidemiology of childhood incontinence
Background:
- Daytime urinary incontinence (DUI) in children is a common concern.
- Prevalence and risk factors for DUI in early primary school years require further investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the prevalence and severity of DUI in children starting primary school.
- To identify independent risk factors associated with DUI in this age group.
Main Methods:
- A population-based cross-sectional survey was conducted among new entrant primary school children in Sydney, Australia.
- A random cluster sample of 2020 children was surveyed using a validated daytime incontinence questionnaire.
- Data from 1419 children (70% response rate) with a mean age of 5.9 years were analyzed.
Main Results:
- The overall prevalence of daytime urinary incontinence was 19.2% (mild 16.5%, moderate 2.0%, severe 0.7%).
- Independent risk factors for moderate to severe DUI included recent emotional stress (OR 5.7), paternal history of wetting (OR 9.3), and sibling history of wetting (OR 5.3).
- Only 16% of families with affected children sought medical assistance.
Conclusions:
- Daytime urinary incontinence is more prevalent in early primary school children than previously reported.
- Emotional stress and family history are significant contributing factors to childhood wetting.
- A low proportion of affected families seek medical help, highlighting a gap in healthcare access.