The prevalence and risk factors of urinary incontinence and its influence on the quality of life among Egyptian women

AIMS: The exact magnitude of the problem of urinary incontinence (UI) in Egypt is not yet reported. We studied the prevalence and potential risk factors associated with UI among a group of Egyptian women as taken from a representative sample from the population. METHODS: Design: A cross-sectional, community-based study. Setting: Assiut, Upper Egypt, Egypt. Participants: women, aged 20 years and older, selected randomly from the population. Measurements: Participants completed a previously validated questionnaire; Urogenital Distress Inventory-short form (UDI-6). RESULTS: A total of 1,652 women were included. The prevalence of UI among our study subjects is 54.8%. Aging, low educational level, menopause, higher parity (>3), vaginal delivery, and previous multiple abortions (>3) were found to be significantly associated with UI. The prevalence of urge, stress and mixed incontinence, mutually exclusive of each other, was 15%, 14.8%, and 25%, respectively. The prevalence of severe incontinence is 8.4%. Regarding the quality of life, the most distressing issues for sufferers were their inability to pray (90%). CONCLUSIONS: UI is quite common in Egypt and prevalence rates are higher when compared to other reports.