TITLE:
Prevalence of Nocturnal Enuresis and Factors Associated with Wet-Night Frequency among Children Attending Four Pediatric Hospitals in Baghdad, 2025
AUTHORS:
Dhuha Qassim Mohammed Salih, Sahar A. Esa Al-Shatari, Hassan Mahmoud Salman
KEYWORDS:
Nocturnal Enuresis, Caregiver, Prevalence, Associated Factors, Baghdad, Iraq
JOURNAL NAME:
Journal of Biosciences and Medicines,
Vol.14 No.8,
August
27,
2026
ABSTRACT: Background: Nocturnal enuresis has multifactorial etiologies and exerts significant psychological and social burdens on affected children and their families. Objectives: To estimate the prevalence of nocturnal enuresis among children aged 5 - 15 years attending selected pediatric clinics and to identify demographic, sociodemographic, medical, and psychosocial factors associated with wet-night frequency among affected children. Subjects and Methods: A hospital-based cross-sectional analytic study was conducted from 2 January to 31 August 2025 in four major pediatric hospitals in Baghdad. Caregivers of children aged 5 - 15 years were approached consecutively during clinic sessions. Each caregiver represented one unique child, repeat visits were excluded by matching names during data collection, and no eligible caregiver declined participation. Children with nocturnal enuresis were assessed through face-to-face caregiver interviews using a semi-structured, expert-validated questionnaire. Diagnosis and exclusion of medical causes were confirmed by a specialist pediatrician or pediatric neurologist. Results: Of 1087 children screened, 252 had nocturnal enuresis, giving a clinic-attendee prevalence of 23.18% (95% CI, 20.77% - 25.78%). The mean age of affected children was 8.9 ± 3.0 years, and 127 (50.4%) were male. A positive family history was reported in 150 (59.5%). Every-night wetting was reported in 139 (55.2%). Based on the dry-period history, 232 (92.1%) had primary and 20 (7.9%) had secondary enuresis. Wetting occurred only at night in 222 (88.1%) and during both day and night in 30 (11.9%). Only 77 (30.6%) families had sought medical consultation. In adjusted multinomial regression, having four or more siblings was associated with wetting on more than two nights versus two or fewer nights per week (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 3.96; 95% CI, 1.61 - 9.74). Maternal primary education, compared with secondary education or higher, was associated with every-night wetting versus two or fewer nights per week (aOR, 3.86; 95% CI, 1.24 - 12.02). Other adjusted associations were not statistically significant. Conclusion: Nocturnal enuresis was common among children attending the selected pediatric clinics, but this hospital-based estimate should not be generalized to all children in Baghdad. Wet-night frequency was independently associated with sibling number and maternal educational level in the adjusted analysis. The condition was accompanied by substantial family burden and low use of professional care.