Table 2.
The prevalence and likelihood of constipation in different demographic groups and dietary factors
| Prevalence of constipation | Likelihood of constipation | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Univariate logistic regression | Multivariate logistic regression | ||||||
| Demographic features | % | 95% CI | p value | Odds ratio (95% CI) | p value | Odds ratio (95% CI) | p value | 
| Overall | 15.6 | 13.2–18.0 | |||||
| Sex | < 0.001** | ||||||
| Men | 10.6 | 7.6–13.6 | Reference | Reference | |||
| Women | 19.7 | 16.2–23.3 | 2.07 (1.40–3.04) | < 0.001** | 2.08 (1.39–3.10) | < 0.001** | |
| Age groups | < 0.001** | ||||||
| 18–38 years | 23.5 | 18.6–28.3 | Reference | Reference | |||
| 39–54 years | 13.3 | 9.5–17.2 | 0.50 (0.33–0.77) | 0.002** | 0.49 (0.31–0.77) | 0.002** | |
| 55–80 years | 9.9 | 6.4–13.3 | 0.36 (0.22–0.57) | < 0.001** | 0.38 (0.23–0.64) | < 0.001** | |
| Educational level | 0.13 | ||||||
| Primary | 11.7 | 6.8–16.6 | Reference | Reference | |||
| Secondary | 14.8 | 11.1–18.5 | 1.31 (0.76–2.27) | 0.33 | 1.32 (0.74–2.37) | 0.35 | |
| Tertiary | 18.3 | 14.2–22.3 | 1.69 (0.98–2.89) | 0.06 | 1.63 (0.90–2.94) | 0.11 | |
| Living environment | 0.21 | ||||||
| Rural | 13.5 | 9.7–17.3 | Reference | ||||
| Urban | 16.7 | 13.7–19.8 | 1.28 (0.87–1.90) | 0.21 | |||
| Body mass index | 0.21 | ||||||
| Underweight | 12.5 | −1.8–26.8 | 0.70 (0.21–2.43) | 0.58 | 0.58 (0.16–2.04) | 0.40 | |
| Normal weight | 16.9 | 13.3–20.5 | Reference | Reference | |||
| Overweight | 12.2 | 8.4–15.9 | 0.68 (0.44–1.06) | 0.09 | 0.96 (0.60–1.52) | 0.85 | |
| Obese | 18.9 | 12.7–25.0 | 1.15 (0.72–1.84) | 0.57 | 1.72 (1.02–2.90) | 0.04* | |
| Dietary factors | |||||||
| Water intake < 1.5 L/day | 21.5 | 16.3–26.6 | 0.003**a | 1.78 (1.22–2.60) a | 0.003** | 1.70 (1.14–2.53)a | 0.01* | 
| Vegetables < 3 spoons/day | 22.5 | 16.9–27.9 | 0.001**a | 1.88 (1.28–2.77) a | 0.001** | 1.53 (1.02–2.30)a | 0.04* | 
| Fruits < 2 pieces/day | 16.7 | 13.3–20.1 | 0.33a | 1.20 (0.83–1.73) a | 0.33 | ||
| Whole grain bread < 3 slices/day | 17.8 | 13.3–22.1 | 0.23a | 1.26 (0.87–1.84)a | 0.23 | ||
* Statistical significance of p < 0.05
** Statistical significance of p < 0.005
a The reference category is more than the indicated quantity of water, vegetables, fruits and bread respectively