title: Female urinary incontinence: a cross-sectional study from a Thai rural area.
abstract: The aims of this study were to investigate the prevalence and associated factors of female urinary incontinence in a Thai rural area and to investigate the impact of female urinary incontinence on quality of life. A population-based cross-sectional survey was performed from September 2003 to February 2004. A total of 1,126 women completed the questionnaires. The overall prevalence of urinary incontinence was 36.50%, i.e. stress urinary incontinence (33.60%), urge urinary incontinence (11.00%) and mixed urinary incontinence (8.07%). Urinary incontinence adversely affected quality of life; the mixed urinary incontinence group reported significantly greater impairment than the stress and urge urinary incontinence groups. Advancing age, labouring occupation, postmenopausal status, years since menopause, medical diseases, childbirth and vaginal delivery were associated with this problem.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Faculty of Medicine, Ramathibodi Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, 10400, Thailand. rajmo@mahidol.ac.th
authors.forename: Jittima
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Manonai
authors.forename: Aporn
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Poowapirom
authors.forename: Sompong
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kittipiboon
authors.forename: Sanya
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Patrachai
authors.forename: Umaporn
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Udomsubpayakul
authors.forename: Apichart
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Chittacharoen
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology*; D012307:Risk Factors; D012424:Rural Population; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013785:Thailand / Q000453:epidemiology; D014550:Urinary Incontinence, Stress / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology*