Frequency and Risk Factors of Functional Constipation among Children Attending Outpatient Clinics

Background: Functional constipation is a common pediatric gastrointestinal disorder with multifactorial etiology. Despite its prevalence, many contributing risk factors are under-recognized in clinical settings, especially in limited resource. Objective: To determine the frequency of functional constipation and identify associated risk factors among children. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 150 children attending a pediatric outpatient department. Functional constipation was diagnosed based on Rome IV criteria. Data on sociodemographic characteristics, clinical symptoms, bowel habits, dietary patterns, physical activity, and screen time were collected using a structured questionnaire. Statistical analyses included chi-square tests and multivariate logistic regression. Results: Among 150 children, 84 (56%) were diagnosed with functional constipation. The majority of affected children were aged 6–10 years (47.6%), with a slight male predominance (52.4%). Hard stool (75%), large-diameter stool (85.7%), painful bowel movements (69.0%), and abdominal pain (47.6%) were the most common clinical features. More than half of the children had prolonged screen time >2 hours/day (64.3%), inadequate fiber intake (53.6%), inadequate fluid intake (51.2%), and poor school toilet facilities (61.9%). Emotional abuse was reported in 25% of cases, while positive parental history of constipation was present in 46.4% of the children. Conclusion: Functional constipation is prevalent in children and is significantly associated with modifiable factors such as inadequate fluid intake, increased screen time, and parental history. Preventive strategies should include parental education, promoting adequate hydration, and reducing sedentary behavior. J Dhaka National Med. Coll. Hos. 2026; 32 (02): 53-59