Formerly International Journal of Basic and Applied Agricultural Research

Study of constipation and related factors among female students of Pantnagar

RITA SINGH RAGHUVANSHI, NIDHI JOSHI, DIKSHA SINGH, SHIKHA SINGH, MEENAL and DASHRATH BHATI
Pantnagar Journal of Research, Volume - 18, Issue - 3 ( September-December, 2020)

Published: 2020-12-31

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Abstract


Constipation is the most common gastrointestinal disorder worldwide. A cross-sectional, interviewer-administered survey was carried out to measure the prevalence and determinants of constipation among hostel residing female students. Randomly selected 200 female students (20-30 years) residing in the university hostels of Pantnagar were interviewed to assess the prevalence of constipation. A pre-tested, structured questionnaire was used to collect information on stool-type, anthropometric profile, dietary habits, defecation pattern, physical activity, and general information. The data were presented in percentages; chi-square analysis and rate ratio were calculated to analyse the association between dependent and independent variables. The result showed that the prevalence of constipation was 20.5% among the subjects, as evaluated by the Bristol stool form scale. The prevalence of mild to severe diarrhoea was reported to be 22% among the subjects. Constipation was found to be significantly associated with body mass index, waist to hip ratio, physical activity, dietary fibre, meal skipping, water intake, and eating out frequency. It was found that the risk of constipation was thrice in overweight and obese subjects than underweight and normal subjects. The water intake of fewer than 1.5 litres per day increased the risk of constipation nine times among subjects. Lower dietary fibre intake increased the risk of constipation by thirteen times. The study concluded that less dietary fibre intake, less fluid intake, fast food consumption, meal skipping, higher waist to hip ratio, higher body mass index, and sedentary lifestyle increases the risk of constipation among the hostel residing female students.


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