Objective: The aim of this study was to identify the socio-demographic characteristics of children suffering from constipation, find out how their mothers assess constipation and understand their attitude regarding treatment. Material and Methods: The study was conducted on 120 mothers who presented at the Child Health and Diseases Polyclinic of Ankara Education and Research Hospital from April 2011 to April 2013 for their 12 to 72 months old children having a constipation problem. This was a descriptive study for which data were obtained by face-to-face administration of questionnaires. Collected data were analyzed by using numeric, percentile and Chi square distribution methods. Results: Among all children with constipation in the study, 59.1% were in the 37-72 months old group and 51.6% of them were girls; 82.5% of the cases had started additional nutrition before the age of six months. As regards the accompanying complaints of constipation, 61.6% of the mothers declared abdominal pain and 49.1% of them declared painful evacuation; 61.6% of the mothers declared they had others with constipation in their families. As the cause of the constipation problem, 67.5% of the mothers thought that it was because their children did not eat soupy dishes, 19.1% of them thought that it was because they don’t like sitting on the toilet and 8.3% of them thought that it was because they could not get used to the toilets in their schools; 78.3% of the mothers declared that they tried get their child potty trained during their 24-36 months old period; 47.3% of the mothers with 12-36 months old children declared they used “rectal suppositories” and 49.2% of the mothers having 36-72 months old children declared they used “constipation syrup” for treating the constipation problem of their children Conclusion: Starting additional nutrition at an early age, quality of nutrition, age of potty training and having family members with constipation

problem are risk factors for constipation. Abdominal pain and hard-painful evacuation are the common complaints among these children

with constipation. Rejecting going to the toilet due to painful evacuation is a commonly observed behavioral change during the constipation

period. Mothers use “rectal suppositories” and/or “constipation syrup” to treat the condition. Informing the mother about nutrition, potty

training and constipation treatment will make it easier to overcome a constipation problem

Keywords: Mother, Knowledge, Child, Behavior, Constipation