ArticleBMC gastroenterology2026
Prevalence of functional constipation and its associated factors among adults in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania: a population-based cross-sectional study.
Article in BMC gastroenterology, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.
What it found
Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.
The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
0 citing papers in PubMed.
No citing paper in PubMed yet.
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
3 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundConstipation is a common bowel complaint in the general population that can negatively impact quality of life. Epidemiological data on constipation in Africa particularly in Tanzania is limited. We aimed to determine the prevalence of functional constipation (FC) and its associated factors among community-dwelling adults in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.
methodsThis was a population-based cross-sectional study, conducted among 784 adults aged ≥ 18 years, from September to November 2019 in Temeke, Dar es salaam, Tanzania. A multistage, cluster random sampling technique was used to select participants. Data were collected at a household level using a structured questionnaire and a face-to-face interview. Rome IV diagnostic criteria were used to diagnose functional constipation. Data entry was done using EpiInfo version 7.2 (CDC, Georgia, USA) and analysed using Stata software 15.1 (StataCorp, Texas, USA). Logistic regression models were used to study the association between functional constipation and sociodemographic characteristics, diet, alcohol consumption, cigarette smoking and fluid intake. A P value of < 0.05 was considered significant.
resultsOut of 784 participants, 98 (12.5%) met the Rome IV criteria for functional constipation. The prevalence of functional constipation was higher among females 76 (13.9%) than males 22 (9.2%) but the difference was not statistically significant (p = 0.650). In multivariable logistic regression analysis, age 50-59 years (aOR, 2.73; 95%CI, 1.22-6.12; p = 0.015), 60 + years (aOR 3.30; 95%CI, 1.43-7.61; p < 0.01) and past cigarette smoking (aOR, 3.38; 95%CI, 1.14-10.04; p < 0.028) were independently associated with an increased risk of FC. Fluid intake 1-1.5L per day (aOR, 0.33; 95%CI, 0.13-0.85; p < 0.022) and more than 1.5L per day (aOR, 0.31; 95%CI, 0.13-0.76; p < 0.010) was significantly associated with decreased odds of having FC.
conclusionThe prevalence of constipation was relatively high in the general adult population in Temeke. Participants with old age and past cigarette smoking history were more likely to suffer from constipation while higher fluid intake was associated with lower odds of functional constipation.
Indexed as
Identifiers
42881453What OpenQuestion holds
Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.