Hamide ZENGIN, Aslı AKDENIZ KUDUBES
Clinical and Experimental Health Sciences - 2026;16(1):48-58
Objective: The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence of nocturnal enuresis and identify associated factors among children aged 6-12 years. Method: This cross-sectional study included parents of 766 students studying in three primary schools and three secondary schools (aged 6-12 years and studying in grades 1-7) in the center and districts of a province in the mid-west of Türkiye between March and May 2022, who were reached using the snowball method. The data collection tool prepared by the researchers consisted of socio-demographic questions and a total of 38 questions prepared in line with the literature on NE. Opinions of five experts were taken for the prepared form, and a pilot application was conducted with 20 parents. Number, percentage, mean, and standard deviation were used as descriptive statistics. Pearson's chi-square test was used to evaluate categorical variables. The significance level (p) was set at .05 in all statistical analyses. Results: The mean age of the participants' children was 9.31+/-1.86 years, and 50.9% (n=390) of them were male. It was found that 26.2% (n=201) of the participants' children had NE. A statistically significant correlation was revealed between the presence of NE in a child and parental education level, perceived income and expenditure levels, the presence of NE on the parent's side, and the presence of NE in a sibling (p<.05). Furthermore, a statistically significant association was identified between the presence of NE in a child and the presence of constipation, changes in the child's life over the past six months, and difficulty waking up at night (p<0.05). Of the children with NE, 9.95% received medical treatment. Moreover, it was determined that the pandemic did not cause any change in 91.44% (n=183) of the children with NE, and 6.47% (n=13) of the children with NE were punished/blamed/humiliated by the family. Conclusion: The current study emphasizes that it is important to identify children at risk for NE early and provide holistic management to them. The results above emphasize the importance of community-based programs and evidence-based nursing practices that promote early intervention, family-centered care, and supportive environments for affected children.
