PREVALENCE OF URINARY INCONTINENCE AMONG PREGNANT WOMEN; EXPERIENCE OF A SINGLE TERTIARY REFERRAL CENTER IN SRI LANKA
Anurudda Udaya Bandara Pethiyagoda*, Kalyani Pethiyagoda and Jinali Pabodha Manchanayake
ABSTRACT
Background: Urinary incontinence can affect women throughout their lives. But there is an increased risk for urinary incontinence during pregnancy due to physiological and anatomical changes. Objectives: This study aimed to determine the prevalence and risk factors for urinary incontinence among healthy pregnant women in Sri Lanka. Methodology: This cross-sectional descriptive study was done in 477 pregnant women attending Obstetrics clinics at Teaching Hospital, Peradeniya, Sri Lanka. Interview based - Modified questionnaire on urinary incontinence including the questions of International Consultation on Incontinence Questionnaire was used for assessment and data was analyzed by multiple regression and chi-square test. Level of statistical significance was considered as p< 0.05 for all analysis. Results: Urinary incontinence was seen in 12.99% of pregnant women aged 28.12 ± 5.23 years (mean ± standard deviation) and 79.03% of them were suffering from stress urinary incontinence. Mixed and urge incontinence were 17.74% and 3.22% respectively. Parity, mode of delivery, gestational age, pre pregnant body mass index, age, birth weight of previous babies were the significant associated factors with urinary incontinence during pregnancy. Conclusion: The risk of developing urinary incontinence in pregnant women in Sri Lanka is increased when the risk factors for urinary incontinence are present. Understanding these causative factors can be useful for health care professionals to help preventing urinary incontinence during pregnancy and the postpartum period.
Keywords: Urinary Incontinence, pregnancy, prevalence, risk factors, quality of life.
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