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Sociodemographic factors associated with nocturnal enuresis
1Department of Nursing Studies, University College Cork, Ireland.
Insights
Large family size and younger age were linked to bedwetting (nocturnal enuresis) in children. These sociodemographic factors impact health service planning for enuresis management.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Public Health
- Epidemiology
Background:
- Nocturnal enuresis affects a significant number of children.
- Understanding sociodemographic factors is crucial for targeted interventions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between sociodemographic factors and nocturnal enuresis in a large cohort of school children.
- To analyze trends in enuresis prevalence over a 23-year period.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective analysis of school medical examination records for 6206 children aged 4-14 years.
- Data collected between 1970-1993.
- Statistical analysis of sociodemographic variables including age, family size, birth order, gender, and paternal social class.
Main Results:
- A point prevalence of 10.7% for nocturnal enuresis was observed.
- Age, large family size, and low ordinal position were significantly associated with enuresis.
- Gender association was significant in older children (6-14 years).
- Paternal absence showed a higher enuresis rate (15%) compared to father in social class 1 (10%).
Conclusions:
- Sociodemographic factors play a role in the occurrence of nocturnal enuresis.
- Findings inform local health service planning and resource allocation for enuresis management.
- No statistically significant downward trend in enuresis prevalence was detected over the study period.
Abstract:
This study examined the school nursing/medical examination records of 6206 national school children for sociodemographic factors associated with reported nocturnal enuresis. A point prevalence of 10.7% (n = 666) for nocturnal enuresis was reported by parents during 1970-1993 in children aged 4-14 years. Although a downward linear trend (from 11.5% to 10.7%) was seen for the reported prevalence of nocturnal enuresis over the 23-year period, this trend was not statistically significant. Age, as expected, large family size and low ordinal position in the family were all statistically associated with reported nocturnal enuresis. Gender was statistically associated with reported nocturnal enuresis only in the 6-14 years age group. Paternal social class was not statistically associated with reported nocturnal enuresis, although 15% of children in families where the father was absent were reported enuretic compared with only 10% of children whose father was in social class 1. These findings contribute to an understanding of the relationship between sociodemographic factors and enuresis as reported at school medical examinations and have implications for the planning and development of health services at local levels.