title: The prevalence and determinants of health care-seeking behavior for urinary incontinence in United Arab Emirates women.
abstract: The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence and sociodemographics of urinary incontinence (UI) in women in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Women at risk, such as multiparous and climacteric women, were selected from the community (n = 200) and health-care centers (n = 200) and interviewed about inappropriate urine loss in the past 12 months, using a structured and pretested questionnaire. Of these, 81 (20.3%) admitted UI; only 25 of these (30.9%) had sought medical advice. The reasons were embarrassment (38.2%), choice of self-treatment because of low expectations from medical care (38.2%), and preferring to discuss the matter with friends, assuming that UI is normal (23.3%). Sufferers were troubled by their inability to pray (90%) and to have sexual intercourse (33.3%). Perceived causes of UI were paralysis (45%), childbirth (35.4%) and old age or menopause (33.7%). UI is common yet underreported by UAE women because of cultural attitudes and inadequate public knowledge.
authors.affiliation: United Arab Emirates University, Al-Ain.
authors.forename: D E
authors.initials: DE
authors.lastname: Rizk
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Shaheen
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Thomas
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Dunn
authors.forename: M Y
authors.initials: MY
authors.lastname: Hassan
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D001294:Attitude to Health; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior; D006801:Humans; D007743:Labor, Obstetric; D008875:Middle Aged; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D011247:Pregnancy; D015995:Prevalence; D011788:Quality of Life; D012649:Self Concept; D012725:Sexual Behavior; D012923:Social Class; D014479:United Arab Emirates; D014549:Urinary Incontinence / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy