Urinary incontinence among Turkish women: an outpatient study of prevalence, risk factors, and quality of life.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence and potential risk factors associated with urinary incontinence (UI) in women and to assess its impact on quality of life (QOL).


METHODS
We undertook a cross-sectional study based on interviews, using a structured questionnaire.


METHODS
Two hundred eighty-eight women, aged 19 years and older, from gynecology outpatient clinics attached to a university hospital in Ankara, Turkey, were interviewed.


METHODS
Data were collected via a Turkish version of the international consultation on incontinence questionnaire short form (ICIQ-SF) and the Wagner's quality of life scale.


METHODS
Data were collected by face-to-face interviews with subjects and took approximately 30 minutes to complete. Potential risk factors were analyzed using logistic regression.


RESULTS
The prevalence of UI was 31.9%. Logistic regression analysis indicated that the number of pregnancies (odds ratio [OR] = 0.53, 95% CI: 0.28-0.99), UI in mother (OR = 2.46, 95% CI: 1.35-4.50) and sister (OR = 0.34, 95% CI: 0.16-0.77), previous UI during pregnancy (OR = 12.22, 95% CI: 4.11-36.36) and postpartum period (OR = 11.28, 95% CI: 3.66-34.76), and body mass index (OR = 0.49, 95% CI: 0.29-0.85) were associated with a higher likelihood of incontinence (P < .05). Ninety-two of 288 women (31.9%) stated that UI has a negative impact on their QOL and only 40 of 92 (43.5%) had asked for medical help. Impairment of QOL was related with the type of UI, frequency of UI episode, and amount of leakage.


CONCLUSIONS
Our study results determined that UI is common in Turkish women. The QOL of women was mostly mildly or moderately affected by UI.
Niğde University Niğde Zübeyde Hanım School of Health, Nursing Department, Niğde, Turkey. semrakocaoz@hotmail.com
Semra
S
Kocaöz
Melek Serpil
MS
Talas
Cem Somer
CS
Atabekoğlu
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D010044:Outpatient Clinics, Hospital; D015995:Prevalence; D011788:Quality of Life; D012307:Risk Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014421:Turkey / Q000453:epidemiology; D055815:Young Adult