School Toilets
Children’s Perceptions and Prevalence of Gastrointestinal and Urinary Disorders, a Survey in 3 Secondary Schools near Saint-Etienne
Pages 421 to 431
Cite this article
- HOARAU, Bénédicte,
- VERCHERIN, Paul
- and BOIS, Christophe,
- Hoarau, Bénédicte.,
- et al.
- Hoarau, B.,
- Vercherin, P.
- and Bois, C.
https://doi.org/10.3917/spub.144.0421
Cite this article
- Hoarau, B.,
- Vercherin, P.
- and Bois, C.
- Hoarau, Bénédicte.,
- et al.
- HOARAU, Bénédicte,
- VERCHERIN, Paul
- and BOIS, Christophe,
https://doi.org/10.3917/spub.144.0421
Introduction: Irregular use of toilets can contribute to urinary and gastrointestinal disorders. The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence of gastrointestinal and urinary symptoms among a secondary school teenage population and to evaluate their perception and use of school toilets.Methods: 791 adolescents aged 12 to 16 filled in an anonymous questionnaire, which was administered in three secondary schools near Saint-Etienne, France.Results: 22% reported abdominal pain at least once a week during the past two months and 26% experienced abdominal pain about once every month. 9% of schoolchildren suffered from urinary incontinence at least once during the two months before the study: 4% of boys and 13% of girls. Children had a negative perception of school toilets: 62% didn’t feel safe and 54% of boys reported a lack of privacy. 34% of students avoided school toilets: 21% never used them to urinate and 85% never used them to defecate. 28% of children acknowledged they had experienced abdominal pain because they couldn’t use school toilets and 29% said that they had experienced poor concentration as a result of their pain.Discussion: Abdominal pain and urinary disorders are common among secondary schoolchildren. Stool and urine withholding behaviours are be widespread and affect students’ concentration while at school.
Keywords
- adolescent
- abdominal pain
- urination disorders
- toilet facilities
- health behaviour
- secondary school
Publisher keywords: abdominal pain, adolescent, health behaviour, secondary school, toilet facilities, urination disorders
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Uploaded: 10/08/2014
https://doi.org/10.3917/spub.144.0421