Bowel Habit Pattern and Perception about Bowel Habit Pattern of Medical Students

Defining normal bowel habit is important when evaluating diarrhea or constipation. Normal stool frequency and consistency vary from person to person and in different populations due to several factors including dietary habit, quantity of fiber intake and difference in gut transit time. Studies showed that 98%normal persons had bowel movement ranging between three stools per day and three per week and Some degree of urgency, straining, and incomplete evacuation should be considered normal. 

Studies reported that mean stool frequency is higher in several Asian populations (7.09 -14/week), but data on stool form is lacking. A recent community-based study reported a mean stool frequency of 9 ± 3.7 per week and T4 (55.9%) as the predominant stool type in the general population of Bangladesh. Daily fecal output varies depending on dietary pattern. In most of the Asian communities due to high fiber intake stool volume is higher than Western population. In North India, among the vegetarians’ a stool output of 312 gm/24 hour was reported. Read more>>>>>>>>>>>>>