Prevalence of Urinary Incontinence and Associated  Risk Factors among Married Women

SamiahYasminA K; Karim Al-Jashamy; Rohaini Mohamed; Pathak R; Vinothini A; Aye Aye Mon; Saeid R Doustjalali; Nyan H Linn; Darisah L

Volume : III, Issue : VII, July - 2013

Prevalence of Urinary Incontinence and Associated Risk Factors among Married Women

Samiahyasmina K, Karim Al Jashamy, Rohaini Mohamed, Pathak R, Vinothini A, Aye Aye Mon, Saeid R Doustjalali, Nyan H Linn, Darisah L

Abstract :

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Urinary incontinence (UI) and other symptoms of lower urinary tract such as frequency, urgency and incomplete emptying of the bladder are common among women of all ages. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of urinary incontinence with its impacts associated with demographic characteristics in Malaysian married women. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This is a cross–sectional study carried out for three months at Klinik Kesihatan Seberang Takir Kuala Terengganu. The married women who fulfilled the criteria for the study were considered after written consent had been given. Of the total 480 women sampled, 392 (81.7%) successfully completed the Bristol Female Lower Urinary Tract Questionnaire. RESULTS: Overall prevalence 44.1 % of women sampled suffered from urinary incontinence based on International Continence Society definition. The prevalence of stress urinary incontinence, urge incontinence and mixed incontinence were 52%, 19.1% and 25.4% respectively. The occurrence of urinary incontinence was found to be significantly associated with body mass index, parity, dilatation and curettage, and type of delivery (p<0.05). The impact was strongly associated with the amount of urinary leakage. However, 11.6% of the women with urinary incontinence in this study seeked medical services to solve problems that were significantly related to the amount of leakage. CONCLUSION: The prevalence of urinary incontinence was high among the study population but only a small percentage sought medical help. It was recommended that education should be given to increase public awareness of urinary incontinence and to encourage them to get appropriate treatment to improve the quality of life.