[Complaint of urinary loss: a silent woman's problem].
This study investigates the prevalence of urinary incontinence and how it interferes in the daily life of women from a health center in the city of Fortaleza, state of Ceará, Brazil. This is a cross-sectional analytical and quantitative study. The studied population was of 168 women who had appointments for hypertension and/or diabetes in September 2009. The data was collected through interviews and the application of the "International Consultation on Incontinence Questionnaire". For inferential analysis, we used chi-square and Fisher's exact test. Women from the analysis sample (59) were: aged between 42 and 59 years (52.5%), low educational level (55.9%), without a partner (57.6%), retired (50.8%), nonsmokers (81.4%) and overweight (71.2%). Only the low educational level was associated with incontinence. Prevalence was of 61.0%. For 55.5% of incontinents, losing urine intervenes in a grave or very grave way with their daily life. The urinary loss occurred while coughing or sneezing (72.2%) and before arriving at the bathroom (61.1%). The urinary incontinence presented a high prevalence, intervening negatively with these women's lives.
Universidade Federal do Ceará, Enfermeira da Prefeitura Municipal de Fortaleza, Ceará, Brasil. gmdmenezes@gmail.com
Giselle Maria Duarte
GM
Menezes
Francisco José Maia
FJ
Pinto
Francisca Alexandra Araújo
FA
da Silva
Maria Euridéa
ME
de Castro
Carlos Robson Bezerra
CR
de Medeiros
D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015995:Prevalence; D011788:Quality of Life; D012747:Sexual Partners; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014549:Urinary Incontinence