Enuresis, Lower Urinary Tract Dysfunction and Teachers' Perceptions: A School-based Survey

To determine the prevalence of enuresis and lower urinary tract dysfunction among Indian school children, and describe teachers' perceptions regarding toilet requests.

Anonymous survey of students of a secondary school in Visakhapatnam, India by a modified version of the Dysfunctional voiding and incontinence scoring system (DVISS) in 2518 parents. Two questionnaires - the Bathroom behaviour scale and Teachers' hassle scale for toilet requests were designed, validated and administered to 138 teachers.

We received 1911 (75.9%) modified DVISS questionnaires with response; 1790 (93.7%) were valid. History was compatible with enuresis in 85 (4.7%), non-monosymptomatic enuresis in 38 (2.1%), overactive bladder in 46 children (2.6%), dysfunctional voiding syndrome in 14 children (0.8%) and both overactive bladder as well as dysfunctional voiding syndrome in 4 (0.2%). Responses of 43 (31.2%) teachers indicated refusal of toilet requests; medical cause underlying frequent toilet requests was understood by 82 (59.4%) teachers. At least one aspect of toilet requests was a frequent or intense hassle in 43 (39.8%) and 29 (28.7%) teachers, respectively.

Toilet requests are misunderstood by and present a stressor to a sizeable minority of teachers.