Urinary incontinence among pregnant women, following antenatal care at University of Gondar Hospital, North West Ethiopia

Abstract

BackgroundUrinary incontinence is defined as a complaint of any involuntary leakage of urine. During pregnancy, the prevalence of urinary incontinence ranges from 32 to 64 %. Different factors like demographic factors, obstetric factors, and other external factors affect urinary incontinence. In Ethiopia, there is no study conducted so far on the magnitude of urinary incontinence and factors associated among pregnant women. The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence of urinary incontinence and associated factors among pregnant women following antenatal care at the University of Gondar Hospital.MethodsInstitution based cross- sectional study was conducted among 422 pregnant women following antenatal care at the University of Gondar Hospital. Data was collected using a structured questionnaire and analyzed using SPSS version 20. Descriptive, bivariate, and multivariate analyses were performed. The results were considered significant at p-value < 0.05.ResultThe overall prevalence of urinary incontinence among the participants was 11.4 % [48]. After adjustment episiotomy, constipation, obese women, chronic cough/sneezing, asthma/allergies/sinusitis was associated with urinary incontinence.ConclusionsIn this study, a lower prevalence was found than that of previous studies. There was a significant association of urinary incontinence with a previous history of episiotomy, constipation, maternal BMI, and respiratory problems.

Prevalence and risk factors for urinary incontinence in pregnancy in Ikere‐Ekiti, Nigeria

“…More than a quarter of the respondents in this survey exhibited UI in pregnancy. This proportion fell within the reported range of 20‐60% in pregnancy It also corroborates lower prevalence seen in Africans . This prevalence was marginally above the report from Zaria.…”

“…It is hence not surprising that both age and parity were not significant predictors of UI in pregnancy in this study unlike previous studies . However, same observations were made about parity and women's age in Turkey and Ethiopia in which the findings were related to the difference in patients’ characteristics and health care system …”

“…Many participants with UI in pregnancy had mild symptoms without lifestyle changes which was in tandem with another study from Nigeria . Most women felt UI was one of the inconveniences of pregnancy that should be endured; and thus suffer in silence . Some respondents admitted to lifestyle changes; the mean ICIQ score revealed moderate impact on quality of life.…”

“…This prevalence was marginally above the report from Zaria. (21.1%) It was also higher than the reported prevalence of 11.4% in Ethiopia . This may be a pointer to under‐reporting of UI in pregnancy among Africans as majority of the affected women do suffer in silence .…”

“…Many women suffer UI in pregnancy including those in Africa and Asia. There are however limited studies on UI in pregnancy in these continents . In Nigeria, majority of them do not complain to their healthcare providers despite the effect on quality of life .…”