URINARY INCONTINENCE AMONG WOMEN ATTENDING A TERTIARY CARE CENTER: PREVALENCE, ASSOCIATED FACTORS, AND QUALITY OF LIFE

• Rachel Mathew,*  
• Saritha Susan Vargese,  
• Srijana Mathai,  
• Reshma T Rajan,  
• Jacquiline Jose,  
• Susan Mathew

Abstract

ABSTRACT Background: Urinary incontinence (UI) is a major global health issue that primarily affects elderly women, resulting in social isolation and reduced quality of life (QOL). The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence of UI, identify associated factors, and analyze how it affects the overall well-being of women. Methodology: A cross-sectional study was conducted at a hospital, involving 500 women aged 40 and above who visited the gynaecology outpatient department over a period of six months, starting from July 2022. The data were gathered by structured interviews and using the International Consultation on Incontinence Questionnaire-Short Form (ICIQ-SF) and analyzed using SPSS 25 (Armonk, NY, USA). Results: The study revealed an overall UI prevalence of 37% among participants. The prevalence of stress incontinence was 52.4%, making it the most common type. Urge incontinence accounted for 27.3% of cases, while mixed incontinence accounted for 20.3%. The UI displayed strong correlations with chronic cough (p=<0.0001), constipation(p=0.03), previous vaginal birth (p=0.029), and prolonged labour(p=0.007). The majority of affected women (59.9%) experienced urinary incontinence (UI) once a week or less, whereas just 18% reported daily or more regular episodes. In addition, almost 77% of the participants experienced small amounts of leakage and majority had a negative impact on quality of life . Conclusion: Urinary incontinence is a complex health problem that has significant effects on the quality of life for women. The study findings suggest that around 25% of older women experience urine incontinence (UI), with stress urinary incontinence being the most common subtype. Gaining insight into the frequency and related variables of UI would enable the adoption of efficient preventive measures, hence enhancing the overall welfare of affected individuals.

Keywords

Urinary Incontinence, Associated factors, Quality of Life, Women