title: Prevalence of urinary incontinence among Saudi women.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To estimate the prevalence of female urinary incontinence (UI) in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia; to determine associated risk factors; and to identify healthcare-seeking behavior among affected women.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cross-sectional study of women attending Ministry of Health primary healthcare centers in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, was conducted. Participants completed a questionnaire that evaluated factors associated with UI.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean age of the 379 participants was 35 years and the median parity was 4. The overall prevalence of UI was 41.4% (95% CI, 36.6-46.5). Stress UI, urgency UI, and mixed UI were reported by 36.4% (95% CI, 31.7-41.4), 27.4% (95% CI, 23.2-32.1), and 22.2% (95% CI, 18.3-26.6), respectively. Urinary leakage was reported daily by 17.2%, and 25.5% experienced leakage more than once a week. Risk factors for UI included increased age (P<0.001); parity greater than 5 (P<0.001); menopause (P=0.004); and history of vaginal gynecologic surgery, chronic cough, or constipation (P≤0.001). Medical advice was not sought by 85.5% of women with UI. Many of the women with UI reported adverse effects on their daily activities.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Female UI is prevalent in Saudi Arabia; however, the majority of women with this condition did not seek medical advice.
authors.affiliation: Department of Urogynecology and Pelvic Reconstructive Surgery, King Fahad Medical City, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. ahmed@albadr.com
authors.forename: Ahmed
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Al-Badr
authors.forename: Hadya
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Brasha
authors.forename: Rajaa
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Al-Raddadi
authors.forename: Fatma
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Noorwali
authors.forename: Susan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ross
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D003248:Constipation / Q000150:complications; D003371:Cough / Q000150:complications; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D013509:Gynecologic Surgical Procedures / Q000009:adverse effects; D006801:Humans; D008593:Menopause; D008875:Middle Aged; D010298:Parity; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care; D011247:Pregnancy; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D012529:Saudi Arabia / Q000453:epidemiology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014549:Urinary Incontinence / Q000453:epidemiology*; D055815:Young Adult