Urinary Incontinence of Women in a Nationwide Study in Sri Lanka: Prevalence and Risk Factors.

PURPOSE: Urinary incontinence, be stress incontinence or urge incontinence or a mixed type incontinence affects women of all ages. The aim of this study was to describe the prevalence and risk factors of urinary incontinence in Sri Lanka.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: A community based cross-sectional study was performed in Sri Lanka. The age group of the women in Sri Lanka was categorized into 3 age groups: Less than or equal to 35 years, 36 to 50 years of age and more than or equal to 51 years of age. A sample size of 675 women was obtained from each age category obtaining a total sample of 2025 from Sri Lanka. An interviewer-administered questionnaire consisting of two parts; Socio demographic factors, Medical and Obstetric History, and the King's Health Questionnaire (KHQ), was used for data collection. Stepwise logistic regression analysis was performed.

RESULTS: The Prevalence of women with only stress incontinence was 10%, with urge incontinence was 15.6% and with stress and urge incontinence was 29.9%. Stepwise logistic regression analysis showed that the age groups of 36 - 50 years (OR = 2.03; 95% CI = 1.56 - 2.63) and 51 years and above (OR = 2.61; 95% CI= 1.95 - 3.48), Living in one of the districts in Sri Lanka (OR = 4.58; 95% CI = 3.35 - 6.27) and having given birth to multiple children (OR = 1.1; 95% CI = 1.02 - 1.21), diabetes mellitus (OR = 1.97; 95% CI = 1.19 - 3.23), and respiratory diseases (OR = 2.17; 95% CI = 1.48 - 3.19 ) showed a significant risk in the regression analysis.

CONCLUSION: The risk factor, mostly modifiable, if prevented early, could help to reduce the symptoms of urinary incontinence.