Socio-Demographic Characteristics and Predictors of Childhood Primary Nocturnal Enuresis in Benin City, Nigeria

Aim: To document the socio-demographic characteristics and predictors of primary nocturnal enuresis in children.

Study Design: A descriptive cross sectional study.

Place and Duration of Study: The study was carried out in public primary and secondary schools in Egor Local Government Area, Edo State, Nigeria from April to August 2014.

Participants and Methods: A semi-structured self-administered questionnaire was used to obtained information about nocturnal enuresis from 1221 mothers/child pair who gave consent to participate in the study.

Results: Prevalence of primary nocturnal enuresis in the children was 18.8% (primary monosymptomatic nocturnal enuresis 73.7% and primary non- monosymptomatic nocturnal enuresis 26.3%). Children ages 5 – 7 years (OR = 5.0, p = 0.00) and those from the large household (20.3%) (p = 0.02) significantly had primary nocturnal enuresis. Predictors of primary nocturnal enuresis in this study included difficulty to awaken child from sleep (β = 0.90, OR = 2.5, p = 0.00), history of soiling under-wear (β = 1.56, OR = 5.0, p = 0.00), urgency (β = 1.0, OR = 2.7, p = 0.00), and family history of enuresis (β = 1.95, OR = 7.0, p = 0.00).

Conclusion: This study showed that about one out of every five school children had primary nocturnal enuresis. Difficulty to awaken child from sleep, soiling of under-wears, history of urgency and family history independently predicted primary nocturnal enuresis.