Frequency of urinary incontinence in women, risk factors, and effect of incontinence on quality of life: A cross-sectional study on the Turkish population

Urinary incontinence (UI) is a prevalent health issue that has a psychological impact on those affected. Urinary incontinence, which affects approximately 1 in every 3 women, is a distressing condition that significantly impairs their quality of life (QOL). This study aimed to investigate the frequency of UI in women, identify risk factors, and assess its impact on the QOL.

This analytical, cross-sectional study involved 300 women aged 20 and above who were admitted to the Obstetrics Clinic of a university hospital between June 21, 2022, and August 15, 2022. Data were collected through a questionnaire that included the Descriptive Characteristics Form, International Consultation on Incontinence Questionnaire-Short Form (ICIQ-SF), and Wagner QOL Scale. Data analysis was performed using SPSS version 25, and results were evaluated with a 95% CI. P values less than 0.05 were considered statistically significant.

The frequency of UI among the participants was 48% according to the ICIQ-SF and 62% according to the Wagner QOL Scale. Participants reported experiencing mild UI and psychological distress. The psychosocial well-being of women with UI was found to be moderately and negatively affected (48%). It was determined that 52.2% of the variation in the UI variable could be explained by factors such as body mass index (BMI), history of miscarriage, education level, and age. Miscarriage (Odds ratio [OR], 3.102; 95% CI, 1.502-6.408), lower education level (OR, 3.211; 95% CI, 1.282-8.408), and age (OR, 1.061; 95% CI, 1.024-1.100) were identified as risk factors for UI (P < 0.05). A significant correlation (r = 0.89; P < 0.001) was observed between the QOL and ICIQ-SF measurement tools.

Nearly half of the women experience UI, which has a detrimental impact on their QOL. Higher education levels, healthy lifestyle, and post-miscarriage risk assessment can help protect women from UI.