Table 1. Prevalence of functional constipation, and defecation pattern in total sample and per location in percentage (95% confidence interval).

	All	Jordan	West Bank	Gaza
Functional constipation	12,4 (10,5–14,7)	16,5 (13–20,2)	13,4 (8,8–18,2)	2,3 (0,5–4,7)*
Defecation frequency <3/week	2,1 (1,2–3,1)	2,6 (1,2–4,2)	2,4 (0,5–4,8)	0,9 (0,0–2,3)
Fecal incontinence ≥1/week	1,8 (0,9–2,7)	2,6 (1,2–4,2)	0,5 (0,0–1,4)*	1,4 (0,0–3,3)
Stool withholding behavior	5,5 (4,0–7,2)	7,5 (5,1–10,3)	5,3 (2,4–8,2)	1,9 (0,5–3,8)*
Painful bowel movement %(95% CI)	20,0 (17,3–22,7)	23,5 (19,7–27,5)	16,8 (12,0–22,6)**	16,0 (11,1–21,1)**
Rectal mass at physical exam	2,7 (1,8–3,8)	0,9 (0,2–1,9)	7,2 (3,8–11,1)*	1,9 (0,5–3,8)
Large diameter stools	20,6 (17,9–23,30)	25,4 (21,4–29,6)	28,8 (22,6–35,1)	2,8 (0,9–5,2)*
Toilet trained for bowel movement	44,1 (40,7–47,6)	45,2 (40,7–50,1)	41,3 (34,1–49,0)	44,6 (37,1–51,6)
Mushy/watery stools	26,5 (23,5–29,5)	32,8 (28,4–37,5)	18,0 (13,1–23,7)**	22,3 (16,9–28,5)*

*: Significant different compared to Jordan, P< 0,001.

**: Significant different compared to Jordan, P< 0,05.