Understanding Bowel Habits and Stool Form Among Indian Adolescents: A Descriptive Study.

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Gastroenterology
• Adolescent Health
• Public Health

Background:

• Bowel habits and stool consistency are key indicators of adolescent physical and mental well-being.
• Factors like sociodemographics, environment, diet, and genetics influence defecation patterns.
• Limited data exists on normal defecation patterns among Indian adolescents.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate and establish normal defecation patterns in Indian adolescents.
• To provide baseline data for future research and clinical guidelines.

Main Methods:

• A cross-sectional study involving 232 adolescents (aged 10-19 years) from Northern India.
• Data collection included bowel habits, stool form (Bristol Stool Scale), latrine use, socio-dietary habits, and demographics.
• Statistical analysis utilized chi-squared and unpaired t-tests, with significance set at p<0.05.

Main Results:

• The most common stool frequency was 1-2 times/day (88.8%). Bristol type IV stool was most prevalent.
• Abdominal pain and bleeding during defecation were common bowel issues.
• Girls reported significantly higher instances of abdominal pain (p=0.009) and incomplete evacuation (p=0.018) compared to boys.

Conclusions:

• This study offers foundational insights into the normal bowel habits of Indian adolescents.
• Findings can inform larger studies and guide the development of management strategies for constipation and bowel irregularities in this population.