title: The nature and severity of urinary incontinence in post-natal women.
abstract: This study investigated the frequency, nature and experience of urinary incontinence in post-natal women. Surveys were completed by 224 women, 50% of whom indicated that they had experienced accidental urine loss. The majority of women who had experienced any symptoms were moderately to greatly bothered by them. A variety of strategies were used to manage the problem; however, 42% of the women who experienced accidental urine loss had taken no action to ease the problem. Women received information about urinary incontinence and pelvic floor exercises from a variety of health care professionals, but this was not consistently provided. The implications of these findings are discussed.
authors.affiliation: Cabrini Hospital/Deakin University Nursing, Professorial Unit, Malvern, Victoria.
authors.forename: Bev
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: O'Connell
authors.forename: Barbara
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Hanna
authors.forename: Susan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bailey
authors.forename: Helen
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Walsh
authors.forename: Amy
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Prosser
mesh_terms: D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000328:Adult; D001294:Attitude to Health; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D010353:Patient Education as Topic / Q000592:standards; D011181:Postnatal Care / Q000592:standards; D015995:Prevalence; D011644:Puerperal Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000523:psychology; D011788:Quality of Life; D012307:Risk Factors; D012648:Self Care / Q000379:methods / Q000523:psychology; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013664:Teaching Materials / Q000592:standards; D014549:Urinary Incontinence / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000523:psychology; D014739:Victoria / Q000453:epidemiology; D016387:Women's Health