PATTERN OF BEHAVIOURAL RESPONSES TO ENURESIS AMONG CHILDREN IN A SELECTED COMMUNITY, IBADAN, NIGERIA

In recent times, one of the most common distressful disorders among children is enuresis. It makes them highly vulnerable to the development of behavioural and mental health disorders, such as attention deficit disorder, conduct disorders, oppositional defiant disorders among others. This study aimed to determine the pattern of behavioural disorder in children with enuresis in a rural community in South -West, Nigeria.Descriptive research design using an interviewer-administered questionnaire to elicit information on the perceived pattern of behavioural disorder in children with enuresis. Mothers of children with enuresis (198) in a rural community were selected using accidental sampling method.Both descriptive and inferential statistical tests were employed in analyzing data collected for this study. One hundred and ninety-eight (198) questionnaires were retrieved and analyzed using tables, percentages and Pearson correlation. Ethical clearance was secured from the ethics committee of the University of Ibadan/University College Hospital community.The mean age of respondents was 7.00 ?1, with moremale children with enuresis than females. The findings from the study revealed that the majority bedwets at least twice a week in the past six months, with 83.3% bedwetting at night only. The result showed that parents punished their children on wet days, but only a few encouraged on dry days. The pattern of behavioural response revealed significant internalized and externalized behavioural problems among children with enuresis. It is recommended that comprehensive enuresis awareness and management options be included in family health programs.