title: Self-reported Prevalence of and Knowledge About Urinary Incontinence Among Community-Dwelling Israeli Women of Child-Bearing Age.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to examine the prevalence of urinary incontinence (UI) among parous women of child-bearing age and compare their level of knowledge regarding UI to those women without the condition.
  
  
  METHODS
  A convenience sample of women aged 20 to 50 years who had given birth at least once completed questionnaires regarding (1) demographic information, (2) knowledge of UI (PIKQ-Prolapse and Incontinence Knowledge Quiz and PIKQ+), and (3) prevalence of UI (ICIQ-UI questionnaire-International Consultation on Incontinence Questionnaire-Urinary Incontinence short form). Women who were pregnant or 3 months or less postpartum were excluded from the analysis of the ICIQ-UI.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Three hundred twenty-three women, representing 89.7% of those approached, participated in the study. Their mean age was 35.3 ±5.0 years (mean ± SD), all completed the knowledge questionnaire while 260 (80.5%) completed the UI questionnaire. Eighty-three (31.9%) suffered from UI, and most (67.5%) were between 31 and 40 years of age. Participants' level of knowledge about UI was found to be moderate (mean = 7.37 ± 3.6) on the PIKQ+. Knowledge level was correlated with age (P = .017) and with higher levels of education (P < .001). There was a significantly higher level of UI knowledge (PIKQ+ scores) among women with UI (mean = 8.6; SD = 3.01) as compared to those who did not report UI (mean = 7.6; SD =±3.75; P < .001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Approximately one-third of parous women aged 20 to 50 years reported UI. Knowledge related to the condition tends to be moderate, increasing with higher age and education.
authors.affiliation: Michal Liebergall-Wischnitzer, PhD, RN, Henrietta Szold School of Nursing, Hadassah/Hebrew University Medical Center, Jerusalem, Israel. Tali Cnaan, MPH, Graduate Master in Public Health Program, Braun School of Public Health and Community Medicine, Hadassah/Hebrew University, Jerusalem, Israel. Hagit Hochner, PhD, Braun School of Public Health and Community Medicine, Hadassah/Hebrew University Medical Center, Jerusalem, Israel. Ora Paltiel, MDCM, MSc, Braun School of Public Health and Community Medicine, Hadassah/Hebrew University Medical Center, Jerusalem, Israel.
authors.forename: Michal
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Liebergall-Wischnitzer
authors.forename: Tali
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Cnaan
authors.forename: Hagit
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Hochner
authors.forename: Ora
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Paltiel
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D057187:Independent Living; D007557:Israel / Q000453:epidemiology; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014549:Urinary Incontinence / Q000453:epidemiology*; D055815:Young Adult