Prevalence of urinary incontinence in the 12-month postpartum period and related risk factors in Turkey.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study is to determine the prevalence of urinary incontinence in the 12-month postpartum period and the risk factors related to this condition.


METHODS
The research is a cross-sectional study of 1,749 first-year postpartum women living in the metropolis of Konya and presenting at seven city health centers. The statistical methods used were the chi(2), the Student's t test and logistic regression analysis.


RESULTS
Of the women in the study who were in their 12-month postpartum periods, 19.5% were experiencing varying degrees of urinary incontinence. While 42.2% of the women suffered from stress incontinence, 10.3% had urge incontinence, 47.5% complained of a mixed type of urinary incontinence, 7.3% reported leakage of urine during sexual intercourse and 14.4% reported the need to use protective pads. It was found that 12.3% of the women were performing pelvic floor muscle exercises and only 15.2% had consulted their doctors about urinary incontinence.


CONCLUSIONS
It was seen that urinary incontinence is a serious health problem in the postpartum period, that it disrupts a woman's daily activities, affects her sex life but that despite this, women do not receive needed medical assistance.
Ege
Emel
E
School of Health Sciences, Nursing Department, Selçuk University, Konya, Turkey. emelege@hotmail.com
Akin
Belgin
B
Altuntuğ
Kamile
K
Benli
Saniye
S
Arioz
Ayten
A
D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D001294:Attitude to Health; D016001:Confidence Intervals; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D015337:Multicenter Studies as Topic; D016017:Odds Ratio; D049590:Postpartum Period; D011247:Pregnancy; D015995:Prevalence; D011788:Quality of Life; D012307:Risk Factors; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D018434:Sickness Impact Profile; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D014421:Turkey / Q000453:epidemiology; D014549:Urinary Incontinence / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D014563:Urodynamics