©Author(s) (or their employer(s)) 2026.
World J Clin Pediatr. Mar 9, 2026; 15(1): 111828
Published online Mar 9, 2026. doi: 10.5409/wjcp.v15.i1.111828
Published online Mar 9, 2026. doi: 10.5409/wjcp.v15.i1.111828
Table 1 Demographic data and family status, n (%)
| Total (n = 1874) | Constipated (n = 302) | Non-constipated (n = 1572) | P value | |
| Area of residence | 0.206 | |||
| Central | 774 (41.3) | 132 (43.7) | 642 (40.8) | |
| Eastern | 207 (11) | 34 (11.3) | 173 (11) | |
| Northern | 363 (19.4) | 59 (19.5) | 304 (19.3) | |
| Northeastern | 326 (17.4) | 56 (18.5) | 270 (17.2) | |
| Southern | 204 (10.9) | 21 (7) | 183 (11.6) | |
| Male | 1003 (53.5) | 147 (48.7) | 856 (54.5) | 0.065 |
| Age (months) | 20.3 ± 11.4 | 25.6 ± 11.2 | 19.3 ± 11.2 | < 0.001a |
| 6-12 | 550 (29.3) | 32 (10.6) | 518 (33) | < 0.001a |
| ≥ 12 | 1324 (70.7) | 270 (89.4) | 1054 (67) | |
| Nutritional status | 0.161 | |||
| Obese | 24 (1.3) | 8 (2.6) | 16 (1) | |
| Overweight | 89 (4.7) | 12 (4) | 77 (4.9) | |
| Normal | 1671 (89.2) | 265 (87.7) | 1406 (89.4) | |
| Underweight | 82 (4.4) | 15 (5) | 67 (4.3) | |
| Malnutrition | 8 (0.4) | 2 (0.7) | 6 (0.4) | |
| Family number | 4.75 ± 1.74 | 4.84 ± 1.86 | 4.73 ± 1.71 | 0.313 |
| Single family | 904 (48.3) | 154 (51) | 750 (47.7) | 0.3 |
| Main caregiver: Mother | 1190 (63.5) | 206 (68.2) | 984 (62.6) | 0.063 |
| Main caregiver educational level | 0.316 | |||
| Lower than mandatory education (below high school) | 436 (23.3) | 77 (25.5) | 359 (22.8) | |
| At least mandatory education (at least high school) | 1438 (76.7) | 225 (74.5) | 1213 (77.2) | |
| Family status | 0.76 | |||
| Together | 1740 (92.8) | 283 (93.7) | 1457 (92.7) | |
| Separated | 91 (4.9) | 12 (4) | 79 (5) | |
| Divorced | 32 (1.7) | 6 (2) | 26 (1.7) | |
| Widowed | 11 (0.6) | 1 (0.3) | 10 (0.6) | |
| Family income | 0.493 | |||
| Low income (< 30000 bahts/month) | 718 (38.5) | 127 (40.2) | 591 (38.1) | |
| Family debt | 1187 (63.4) | 210 (69.5) | 977 (62.2) | 0.015a |
| First degree relative with a history of constipation | 323 (17.2) | 98 (32.5) | 225 (14.3) | < 0.001a |
| Family history of atopy | 634 (33.8) | 116 (38.4) | 518 (33) | 0.066 |
| Child history of atopy | 220 (11.7) | 48 (15.9) | 172 (10.9) | 0.014a |
Table 2 Lifestyles and stress-related characteristics
| Total (n = 1874) | Constipated (n = 302) | Non-constipated (n = 1572) | P value | |
| Exclusive breastfeeding for the 1st 6 months | 889 (47.5) | 151 (50) | 738 (47) | 0.467 |
| Adequate fluid intake per age | 1495 (79.8) | 229 (75.8) | 1266 (80.5) | 0.062 |
| Adequate fruit and vegetable consumption per age | 1729 (92.3) | 259 (85.8) | 1470 (93.5) | < 0.001a |
| History of probiotics exposure | 267 (14.2) | 69 (22.8) | 198 (12.4) | < 0.001a |
| History of fiber supplementation | 100 (5.3) | 48 (15.9) | 52 (3.3) | < 0.001a |
| Media exposure (age < 2 years) | 221 (17.8) | 48 (31.8) | 173 (15.8) | < 0.001a |
| Screen time (age > 2 years); > 1 hour | 176 (26.8) | 72 (27.8) | 104 (26.1) | 0.623 |
| Physical activity (age > 1 year) | N = 1326 | N = 271 | N = 1055 | 0.079 |
| No | 147 (11.1) | 21 (7.8) | 126 (11.9) | |
| < 1 hour | 372 (28.1) | 86 (31.8) | 286 (27.11) | |
| > 1 hour | 807 (60.9) | 164 (60.1) | 643 (61.0) | |
| Adequate sleep duration for age | 1794 (95.7) | 292 (96.7) | 1502 (95.5) | 0.369 |
| Stressful life event in family | 302 (16.1) | 66 (21.9) | 213 (13.6) | < 0.001a |
| (1) Family related stressors | ||||
| Neglect | 9 (0.5) | 2 (0.7) | 7 (0.5) | |
| Parental divorce | 39 (2.1) | 10 (3.3) | 29 (1.8) | |
| Unemployment | 29 (1.6) | 10 (3.3) | 19 (1.2) | |
| Financial difficulties | 85 (4.5) | 19 (6.3) | 66 (4.2) | |
| Domestic violence | 8 (0.4) | 2 (0.7) | 6 (0.4) | |
| Serious illness or death of a family member | 44 (2.4) | 8 (2.7) | 36 (2.3) | |
| (2) Environmental stressors | ||||
| Relocation | 94 (5.0) | 20 (6.6) | 74 (4.7) | |
| School transitions | 23 (1.2) | 5 (1.7) | 18 (1.2) | |
| Severe illness or death of pet | 20 (1.1) | 3 (1.0) | 17 (1.1) | |
| (3) Psychological stressors | ||||
| Traumatic events impacted mental well-being | 11 (0.6) | 4 (1.3) | 7 (0.4) | |
| (4) Others | 13 (0.7) | 6 (2.0) | 7 (0.4) |
Table 3 Univariate and multivariate analysis of the factors associated with functional constipation
| Variables | Crude OR (95%CI) | P value | Adjust OR (95%CI) | P value |
| Age > 1 year | 4.15 (2.83-6.07) | < 0.001a | 3.36 (2.29-4.94) | < 0.001a |
| First degree relatives with a history of constipation | 2.68 (2.03-3.54) | < 0.001a | 2.48 (1.85-3.35) | < 0.001a |
| Family debt | 1.31 (1.01-1.70) | 0.039a | 1.30 (0.99-1.72) | 0.067 |
| Child atopic disease | 1.54 (1.09-2.18) | 0.02a | 1.27(0.88-1.84) | 0.193 |
| Inadequate fruit and vegetable consumption | 2.39 (1.64-3.50) | 0.001a | 1.19 (0.89-1.57) | 0.293 |
| Probiotics supplement | ||||
| Past | 1.98 (1.34-2.94) | 0.001a | 1.41 (0.92-2.17) | 0.112 |
| Current | 2.12 (1.39-3.24) | < 0.001a | 1.55 (0.98-2.46) | 0.059 |
| Supplementary fiber | ||||
| Past | 4.49 (2.68-7.50) | < 0.001a | 3.26 (1.89-5.62) | < 0.001a |
| Current | 10.20 (4.83-21.52) | < 0.001a | 7.85 (3.56-17.30) | < 0.001a |
| Stressful life events in family | 1.59 (1.19-2.12) | 0.002a | 1.41 (1.03-1.93) | 0.029a |
- Citation: Chatpermporn K, Ngoenmak T, Charoenwat B, Chanpong A, Sriphongphankul H, Hanpitakpong N, Sintusek P. Functional constipation in Thai infants and toddlers: The role of genetic-gut-brain interaction and fiber supplementation. World J Clin Pediatr 2026; 15(1): 111828
- URL: https://www.wjgnet.com/2219-2808/full/v15/i1/111828.htm
- DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.5409/wjcp.v15.i1.111828