Nocturnal enuresis in children from Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic: a questionnaire study of prevalence and risk factors

Abstract

Objective: To determine the prevalence of paediatric nocturnal enuresis in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. Design: A cross-sectional study was performed using a pretested questionnaire. Setting: Three different schools in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. Participants: 700 children aged 5–11 years attending one of the different schools in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. Intervention: The study was carried out from November 2017 to December 2017. Main outcome measures: Prevalence of nocturnal enuresis. Results: 700 questionnaires were sent to be filled and 682 were returned. 655 fully filled questionnaires met the requirements of the study. 183 children were identified with nocturnal enuresis among which 88 were boys and 95 were girls. Only 11% of children with enuresis sought medical help. The prevalence of nocturnal enuresis was 27.9%. No statistical significance was found between gender, order in the family, constipation and breast feeding (p>0.05). Age, deep sleep and family history of enuresis were strongly associated with nocturnal enuresis. Conclusions: The prevalence of nocturnal enuresis in Santo Domingo was found to be 27.9% and it was higher compared with some Asian countries but lower than Morocco and Jamaica. Only 11% of children with enuresis sought medical help. Nocturnal enuresis is an important problem in the paediatric population of Santo Domingo, but very few children receive treatment due to the financial costs of healthcare in the Dominican Republic.