Evaluation of urinary incontinence and quality of life in married women aged between 20 and 49 years (Sakarya, Turkey)

Abstract

Background/aim: This study aimed to determine the prevalence of urinary incontinence and to evaluate the relationship betweenurinary incontinence and quality of life in married women.Materials and methods: This is a cross-sectional study conducted among married women aged 20–49 years living in the vicinity ofthe Çökekler Community Clinic (Family Health Center) in Sakarya, Turkey, from 1 November 2011 to 15 April 2012. The study groupconsisted of 1161 women.Results: The frequency of urinary incontinence was 71.5% (n = 830). Out of a total of 830 patients with symptoms of urinary incontinence,mixed was the most frequently determined type (60.4%), followed by urge (33.9%) and then stress urinary incontinence (5.8%). Themean scores obtained by women with urinary incontinence from the general health perceptions and social functioning domains of theSF-36 survey were lower (P < 0.05 for each domain).Conclusion: Urinary incontinence was found to be a common problem among women, and it affects quality of life adversely. Recurrenturinary tract infection and advancing age were the key risk factors in the development of urinary incontinence.