Prevalence and Risk Factors of Urinary Incontinence in Poorly Educated Female Population

Abstract

Objective: There is a significant inverse correlation between poor education level and one’s awareness of his/her health status. Poorlyeducated patients presume most of the disorders as an expected progress of aging and daily life. In our study we aimed to clarify theprevalence of urinary incontinence (UI) in women with a poor educational level.Methods: Female patients admitted to urology and gynecology outpatient clinics without UI complaints were enrolled into the study. Patients,who were uneducated or only literate, were defined as poorly educated. All patients were made to fill in Urinary Distress Inventory (UDI-6) andIncontinence Impact Questionnaire (IIQ-7) forms. Patients younger than 18 years, with a history of incontinence surgery and pelvic surgery,history of pelvic radiation, presence of urologic and gynecological malignancy or severe neurological diseases were excluded from the study.Results: In study population, 236 patients (46.1%) had a compliant of UI. Patients with UI were at a significantly older age and they had higherBody Mass Index (BMI). UDI-6 and IIQ-7 scores were significantly higher in patients with UI. The BMI, history of difficult labor and presence ofpelvic organ prolapse were significantly higher in patients with stress UI (SUI). Age, BMI, presence of diabetes mellitus, number of deliveries,history of difficult labor and presence of pelvic prolapse were significantly higher in patients with urgency UI.Conclusion: Our study revealed that even not applying to hospitals with that complaints the incidence of UI was very high in poorly educatedfemale population and higher BMI, presence of difficult labor, pelvic prolapse were risk factors for UI and SUI subtypes.