Parents Function and Behavioral Disorders in Children with and without Diurnal Voiding Dysfunction: A Comparative Study

Background: Diurnal voiding dysfunction is one of the most common causes of pediatric urology clinic admissions. It can cause behavioral problems for children and their parents. We lunch this study to compare the parents’ function and children’s behavior problem in pediatric patients suffering from diurnal voiding dysfunction referring Arak Amir Kabir hospital.

Materials and Methods: To perform this case-control study, we recruit 116 children with diurnal voiding dysfunction and compared them with other 116 children non-affected children aged between 5 to 16 years old. The child behavior checklist (CBCL4/18) for children behavior assessment and Global Assessment of Functioning (GAF) for the evaluation of their parent’s behavior was completed by the parents. Data was analyzed using ANOVA, qualitative variables and χ2 formula.

Results: Among 116 patient with voiding dysfunction, 10 case (8.6%) showed behavioral problem while this figure was 3 case (2.6%) in the control group, denoting a significant difference (p=0.04). Moreover 20 children (17.2%) in the case group and 9 children (7.8%) in the control group had internalizing problem (p=0.02). Twenty two children (19%) with voiding dysfunction and 8 children (6.9%) in the healthy group had externalizing problem which was also a significant difference (p=0.01).

As a significant difference (0.01), the parent’s average stress and behavior scores in case and control group were 3.65 and 3.76, respectively.

Conclusion: The higher prevalence of behavioral problem in the children suffering from diurnal voiding dysfunction and their parent’s functional impairment highlights the importance of early parent’s intervention for early treatment and subsequently prevention of future behavioral problem in their sibling.