Abstract

Objective: This study aimed to investigate the prevalence of constipation and its associations with demo graphic and health-related factors among children in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted over 9-12 months in Riyadh, involving 459 children aged 4 years and older. Data were collected using a self-administered questionnaire distributed to legal guardians in the outpatient clinics of Dr. Sulaiman Al Habib Hospital. Information on demographic characteristics, stool defecation patterns, chronic diseases, and medication use potentially affecting constipation was gathered.
Results: The study found a constipation prevalence rate of 33.6% among the children surveyed. Significant associations were observed between constipation prevalence and several demographic factors. Children residing in peripheral cities within Riyadh exhibited a higher prevalence of constipation (67.5%) compared to those in the main town (30.3%). Lower parental educational levels and household incomes of less than 10,000 Saudi Riyals per month were also correlated with higher constipation rates. Additionally, children taking constipation-inducing medications had elevated constipation prevalence rates. Conclusion: This study provides updated epidemiological data on constipation among children in Riyadh, highlighting significant associations with demographic and health-related factors. The findings underscore the need for targeted healthcare strategies and public health interventions to promote gastrointestinal health and reduce constipation prevalence among children in urban and suburban settings. Future research should explore longitudinal dynamics and causal pathways further to inform effective preventive and management approaches for pediatric constipation.

Key words: Chronic constipation, children, prevalence, characterization, Saudi Arabia