Defaecation frequencies in Black, Indian, Coloured and White populations - what do they signify?
Walker, A.R.; Walker, B.F.; Bhamjee, D.; Walker, E.J.; Ncongwane, J.; Segal, I.
South African Medical Journal 62(7): 195-199
1982
ISSN/ISBN: 0256-9574 PMID: 6285528 Document Number: 188375
Using questionnaires covering a 7-day period, frequencies of defecation were determined in a total of 2937 Black, Indian, Colored and White subjects aged from 10 yr upwards. The overall frequency in rural Blacks was roughly twice that of Whites. Among rural Blacks, defecation frequencies of 5-7/wk were recorded in 16% and from 1-3/day in 80%. The corresponding figures among urban Blacks were 25 and 71%, among Indians 58 and 34%, among Coloreds 46 and 39% and among Whites 59 an 29%. The wide differential in frequencies between Blacks and Whites is consistent with the wide differential prevailing in proneness to noninfective bowel diseases. On the other hand, Indians and Coloreds had defecation frequencies little different on average from those of Whites, yet the former 2 populations are far less prone to bowel diseases. Hence caution must be exercised in correlating defecation frequency with proneness to bowel diseases. Since bowel behavior includes numerous aspects, defecation frequency should not be regarded in isolation.