Our objective was to determine the risk factors associated with the development of functional constipation (FC) in young children attending daycare centers. A cross-sectional survey using a questionnaire based on the Rome III criteria was conducted in children aged 25 to 84 months from 3 randomly selected daycare centers in January 2016. The items in a questionnaire were statistically compared in the constipated and non-constipated groups. A total of 212 children were included and FC was found in 8.5%. Multivariate logistic regression analyses revealed that maternal history of constipation (odds ratio [OR] = 4.1, 95% Confidence Interval [CI] 1.2-13.9), history of painful defecation before age 1 (OR = 10.4, 95% CI 1.1-101.3), history of painful defecation during toilet training (OR = 28.9, 95% CI 1.9-423.8), no or difficult defecation at a daycare center (OR = 5,804.6, 95% CI 134.4-250,718.4), no meat consumption (OR = 10.1, 95% CI 1.2-88.1), and 500 mL or less of water intake per day (OR = 9.9, 95% CI 0.9-99.5) were powerful predictors of FC in young children (P < 0.05). Additionally, the constipated group was significantly associated with 2 hours or less of outdoor play activities per day, entry into daycare centers before 24 months age, 6 hours or more of attendance at a daycare center per day, breastfeeding for less than 6 months, 3 meals or less per day, and 3 or fewer servings of fruits and vegetables per day (P < 0.05). The findings of this study can guide parents, daycare teachers, and clinicians in prevention, early recognition and early intervention for the risk factors associated with FC in young children.

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