title: Prevalence and degree of bother of pelvic floor disorder symptoms among women from primary care and specialty clinics in Lebanon: an exploratory study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The prevalence of pelvic floor disorders (PFD) and their impact on quality of life of women vary among different populations. The purpose of this study was to assess the prevalence of symptoms of PFD, and their degree of bother in a convenience sample of Lebanese women, and to evaluate health-care seeking (HCS) behavior related to PFD.
  
  
  METHODS
  Women visiting clinics in a University Medical Center in Beirut, Lebanon, completed the self-filled validated Arabic version of the Global Pelvic Floor Bother Questionnaire (PFBQ). Data covering demographics, comorbidities, and HCS behavior related to PFD were collected. Total individual PFBQ scores, individual PFD symptom scores and HCS behavior were correlated to demographic data and comorbidities.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The study participants included 900 women. PFBQ scores were significantly higher in women of older age, women with a lower level of education, women with higher vaginal parity, and women who engaged in heavy lifting/physical activity. BMI >25 kg/m2was the strongest independent risk factor for the presence of PFD symptoms. The overall prevalence of urinary incontinence was 42 %. Anal incontinence was the most bothersome PFD. Almost two thirds of the women reported HCS due to any aspect of PFD. Among symptomatic women who believed that their PFD warranted HCS, financial concern was the most common obstacle irrespective of age and educational level.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In this convenience sample of Lebanese women, PFD symptoms were common and were significantly correlated with demographic characteristics and self-reported comorbidities. The key reason for not seeking health care related to PFD was financial concern.
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology and Population Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, American University of Beirut, Beirut, Lebanon.
authors.forename: Lilian
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Ghandour
authors.affiliation: Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
authors.forename: Vatche
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Minassian
authors.affiliation: King Fahad Medical City, Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Ahmed
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Al-Badr
authors.affiliation: Division of Urology, Department of Surgery, American University of Beirut Medical Center, Beirut, Lebanon.
authors.forename: Rami
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Abou Ghaida
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine, American University of Beirut Medical Center, P.O. Box 11-0236, Riad El-Solh, Beirut, 1107 2020, Lebanon.
authors.forename: Sandra
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Geagea
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine, American University of Beirut Medical Center, P.O. Box 11-0236, Riad El-Solh, Beirut, 1107 2020, Lebanon. tb14@aub.edu.lb.
authors.forename: Tony
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0003-0200-4841
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Bazi
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000554:Ambulatory Care Facilities / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D017281:Cost of Illness; D005242:Fecal Incontinence / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007861:Lebanon / Q000453:epidemiology; D008875:Middle Aged; D059952:Pelvic Floor Disorders / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology*; D015995:Prevalence; D011320:Primary Health Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011788:Quality of Life; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014549:Urinary Incontinence / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000523:psychology
keywords: Epidemiology; Health-care seeking; Lebanon; Pelvic organ prolapse; Prevalence; Urine incontinence