Factors associated with enuresis among primary school children in Port Harcourt

Background : Enuresis is a common childhood problem and can lead to important psychosocial disturbances. Objectives : To determine the risk factors to enuresis, its methods of management and relationship with academic performance among school children in Port Harcourt City (PHC) Methods : A cross sectional study of enuresis among school children in PHC was performed. Pretested questionnaires completed by parents/ guardians was used to collect data. Validation of their academic performances was made using their results in the past one year from the schools head teachers’ records. Descriptive statistics and chi-square test were used for analysis. Results : A total of 922 children, consisting of 463 (50.2%) males and 459 (49.8%) females were studied. The response rate was 82.2%. The prevalence of enuresis was 23.2%. Arousal difficulty and positive family history of enuresis were significantly more frequent in the enuretic group (p<0.05). Enuresis was associated with family stressors in 45 (21.0%) of the children. The enuretic children had higher rates of poor school performance compared with nonenuretic children (p < 0.001) however; there was no statistical significant relationship between enuresis and social class. None of the enuretic children visited a physician for the management of enuresis. Prayers, punishment and herbal medication were the methods of treatment in 89(41.6%), 42 (19.6%) and 6 (2.8%) children respectively. Conclusion : Arousal difficulty, positive family history of enuresis and family stress were common risk factors for enuresis. Also, enuretic children had higher rates of poor school performance compared with non-enuretic children. The inappropriate enuresis management methods requires health education intervention