Nocturnal enuresis among primary school children in Zarka district, Damietta governorate, Egypt

Abstract

Objectives The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence and risk factors of nocturnal enuresis (NE) among primary school children in Zarka district, Damietta governorate, Egypt. Background NE is a common medical and psychological problem worldwide among school-age children. Participants and methods The study was a nested case–control study that was conducted during the academic year 2013/2014 on 325 students aged 6–12 years in Damietta governorate. A questionnaire was designed and was filled in by the parents of randomly selected children attending two different primary schools. A comparative study was conducted in which the children having NE (n = 50) were considered as the case group, and a randomly selected group of nonenuretics with matched age, sex, and socioeconomic criteria (n = 100) was considered as the control group. Results The prevalence of NE was 15.4%. Logistic regression analysis showed that NE was associated with stressful family events and a history of urinary tract infection. In 60% of the enuretic children living in rural areas, working mothers were found to have less enuretic children than housewives. NE was significantly associated with low socioeconomic status of families. NE was associated with a positive family history: the history of enuresis in the father was 4%, the history of enuresis in the mother was 6%, and in brothers or sisters it was 20%. In addition, intake of diuretic drinks has a significant role. In addition, the analysis of data shows a positive association of lack of comfortable sleep. Conclusion The prevalence of NE in primary school children in Damietta governorate constitutes about 15.4%. The family history was seen to have had a markedly significant impact on the occurrence of NE in the studied children. Risk factors include living in rural area, nonworking mothers, psychological troubles, and intake of diuretic drinks.