PRIMARY NOCTURNAL ENURESIS IN CHILDREN: PARENTAL KNOWLEDGE, ATTITUDE AND PERCEPTION IN PUNE

M. Bhavsar¹, D.V. Shah¹

¹Dr. D. Y. Patil Vidyapeeth, Physiotherapy, Pune, India

Background: Primary Nocturnal Enuresis is uncontrolled voiding at night for a child who has not experienced urinary continence for more at 6 months at the age of 5 years or above. Prevalence of 11.4% in Maharashtra, India and has a significant impact on parents and children.

Purpose: Bedwetting has always been under- valued in India and considered as a self-curable condition with increasing age of the child. The knowledge, attitude and perception parents attain regarding bedwetting affects the quality of management and coping strategies used by parents to resolve bedwetting for their child. This study reveals the level of parental knowledge, attitude and perception regarding Primary Nocturnal Enuresis.

Methods: A descriptive exploratory study was conducted in Pune,Maharashtra. A sample size of 100 was arrived by using the prevalence of Nocturnal Enuresis in Maharashtra, India using the MedCalc 18.2.1 software . The institutional approval (DYPCPT/ISEC/48/2022) was taken from Dr. D. Y. Patil Vidhyapeeth, Pune.A self structured questionnaire was prepared and validated by various pediatric professionals after referring various previous research papers, studies on parental behaviours, common causes and coping strategies used by parents . The questionnaire included three domains each domain consisting of five questions, total fifteen questions were structured in English. The questionnaire was designed to conduct an interview based study in which various residental apartments, school drop off and pick up zones, slum areas, In- patient and Out-patient departments were discovered in PCMC area of Pune, India. Parents were selected based on their child’s inclusion criteria and we an informed consent was taken before interviewing the participants.

Results: Majority of the children (67%) belongs from the age group of 5-7 years and majority (57%) were boys. Mothers (79%) answered majority of the questionnaire. Knowledge: Majority of the parents 71% did not hear the term ‘bedwetting’ or ‘enuresis’ but were aware of this condition to exist in children. 43% parents did not know pelvic muscles weakness, stress or fear can cause bedwetting. 62% parents know bedwetting after the age of 5 years is abnormal to exist, 73% parents know wearing wet pants throughout the night causes side-effects and 15% parents only know that bedwetting can be hereditary. Attitude: 67% parents feel worried and 56% parents punish their children for bedwetting. 45% parents only sometimes reward their children for dry nights, 47% parents cheer up their child when they feel anxious or stressed or depressed and 42% parents sometimes feel ashamed. Perception: 57% parents think they should use preventive measures which includes dietary changes,wearing diapers,alarm therapy , 46% parents plan to consult a doctor in future and 44% think taking non-pharmacological therapy (physiotherpay, yoga, behaviournal therapy) can reduce or eliminate bedwetting.

Conclusions: The parents have good perception but a moderately fair attitude and fair knowledge of Primary Nocturnal Enuresis. The level of socio-economic status affects parental knowledge and perception. This study suggests that more awareness regarding Primary Nocturnal Enuresis should be created.

Implications: Parental education regarding physiotherapy interventions can be introduced. Parents can be taught physiotherapy home protocols and coping strategies.

Funding acknowledgements: Self funding

Keywords:
Primary Nocturnal Enuresis
Bedwetting
Parental Knowledge, attitude and perception

Topics:
Community based rehabilitation
Paediatrics

Did this work require ethics approval? Yes

Institution: Dr. D. Y. Patil College of Physiotherapy, Pune

Committee: Dr. D. Y. Patil College of Physiotherapy, Pune

Ethics number: DYPCPT/ISEC/48/2022