Prevalence, Risk Factors, and Pediatrician Awareness of Infant Dyschezia in Indonesia

• Published in: Pediatric gastroenterology, hepatology & nutrition Vol. 26; no. 2; pp. 116 - 126
• Main Authors: Kadim, Muzal, Putri, Ucha Merendar, Gunardi, Hartono, Wulandari, H F, Wahidiyat, Pustika Amalia, Pardede, Sudung O, Indawati, Wahyuni
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Korea (South) The Korean Society of Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition 01.03.2023; 대한소아소화기영양학회
• Subjects: Original; 소아과학; Dyschezia; Prevalence; Rome IV criteria; Awareness; Risk factors; Pediatricians
• ISSN: 2234-8646; 2234-8840
• DOI: 10.5223/pghn.2023.26.2.116

This study aimed to evaluate the prevalence and risk factors of infant dyschezia as well as pediatrician awareness regarding this disease in Indonesia. This is a two-part cross-sectional study, which was divided into study A and B. Study A: Parents whose infants were under 9 months old and attended well-baby clinics were recruited at two randomly selected primary health centers. Parents also provided information on the infant's previous medical history, and socio-demographic and family details. The Rome IV criteria was translated and validated to be used for diagnosis of infant dyschezia. Study B: Randomly selected pediatricians were surveyed by using a questionnaire to evaluate their knowledge regarding infant dyschezia. The prevalence of infant dyschezia based on the result of this study was 11.8%. Three risk factors had a significant relationship with infant dyschezia i.e., the number of children in the family (odds ratio [OR], 5.619; 95% confidence interval [CI], 2.194-14.390; <0.001), complementary food diet (OR, 4.238; 95% CI, 1.902-9.443; <0.001), and social-emotional disturbance (OR, 5.670; 95% CI, 2.550-12.609; <0.001). The percentage of pediatricians correctly diagnosed infant dyschezia was 71.5%. Most pediatricians agreed that they did not perform any diagnostic testing (79.7%) and only provided education in cases of infant dyschezia (58.5%). The prevalence of infant dyschezia identified in our study was higher than that in other neighboring Asian countries, with the highest prevalence observed in infants 7-9 months old. Being an only child, receiving complementary food diet, and sociao-emotional disturbances were significant risk factors of infant dyschezia.