title: Social impact and healthcare-seeking behavior among women with urinary incontinence in the United Arab Emirates.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the prevalence and social impact of urinary incontinence (UI) and healthcare-seeking behaviors among women in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
  
  
  METHODS
  A study was conducted of 429 women who attended family development foundation centers in Al Ain, UAE, between January 1, 2010, and January 31, 2011. Data on sociodemographics, obstetric and medical history, and factors related to UI were obtained using a questionnaire.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The prevalence of UI was 42.2% (mean age, 37.8years). Aspects of daily life (praying, social activities, physical activities, or sexual relationship) were disrupted by UI among 78.0% of the women, with severe effects reported by 8.8%. Independent risk factors for UI were education level, history of "dragging" genital lump, and constipation. In all, 50.5% of the affected women did not seek medical advice, stating the following reasons: hoped for spontaneous resolution of UI (61.9%); embarrassed to visit a male or female clinician (35.9%); believed that UI was a normal occurrence among women (31.5%); embarrassed to visit a male clinician (29.3%); and unaware that treatment was available (23.9%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Although UI was prevalent in the UAE and affected quality of life, less than half of all women with this condition sought medical advice.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, United Arab Emirates University, Al Ain, United Arab Emirates.
authors.forename: Hassan M
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Elbiss
authors.forename: Nawal
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Osman
authors.forename: Fayez T
authors.initials: FT
authors.lastname: Hammad
mesh_terms: D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D010865:Pilot Projects; D015995:Prevalence; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011788:Quality of Life; D012307:Risk Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014479:United Arab Emirates / Q000453:epidemiology; D014549:Urinary Incontinence / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy*; D055815:Young Adult