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The European Journal of Public Health 1998 8(2):170-175; doi:10.1093/eurpub/8.2.170
© 1998 by European Journal of Public Health
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HEALTH SURVEYS

A population survey of bowel habits in urban Swiss men

FRANCOIS CURTIN1, ALFREDO MORABIA1, MARTINE BERNSTEIN1 and JEAN-PIERRE DEDERDING2

1Division of Clinical Epidemiology, Geneva University Hospital Geneva, Switzerland
2Avenue de la Roserale Geneva, Switzerland

Dr. F. Curtin, Division of Clinical Epidemiology, Geneva University Hospital, 24 rue Mieheli-du-Crest, CH-1211 Geneva 14, Switzerland, tel. +41 22 3729552, fax +41 22 3729565

The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of symptoms related to constipation in urban Swiss men and to identify associated sociodemographic factors and health habits. A sample of 773 men aged between 35 and 74 years randomly selected from the Geneva population answered a questionnaire on bowel habits during a personal interview in a mobile epidemiological unit. ‘Constipation’ was reported by more than 6% of subjects, difficulties in stool evacuation by approximately 5% and less than three stools per week by approximately 2%. These symptoms appeared less prevalent in subjects with post-baccalaureate education (the excess prevalence of self-reported constipation, difficulty in stool evacuation and frequent daily defecation was greater than 5%). Smokers were more likely to have a frequency of 3–7 stools per week and were less affected by frequent daily defecation. Self-reported constipation was more prevalent in subjects with a higher dietary fibre intake. No statistically significant effects of age, nationality, dietary fat or physical activity were observed. These results are consistent with national surveys in US populations. Factors related to socioeconomic status or education may be a cause of constipation in men, but they still need to be elucidated.

Keywords: bowel habits, constipation, prevalence, urban population, sociodemographic factors


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