WORLD JOURNAL OF ADVANCE
HEALTHCARE RESEARCH

*Marwa Basil Shukur and Dr. Batool Ali Hassan

ABSTRACT

Background: Urinary incontinence is common among postmenopausal women. It is a debilitating condition with impact on physical and psychological aspect of life. Aim: determine the percentage, significant association and risk factors of urinary incontinence among sample of postmenopausal women. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted at Baghdad Teaching Hospital during the period from 1st February to end of July 2024. It included 300 postmenopausal women who were attending the out-patients clinic of this hospital for different pathological causes. A structural questionnaire was used to collect data about the occurrence of incontinence, duration, demographic, clinical and obstetrical characteristics. Results: Out of 300 included women, 214 (71.33%) had urinary incontinence. The mean duration of urinary incontinence was 4.20±5.68years. In more than two-thirds (70.56%) of included women, there was a mixed type. However, 12.15% and 17.20% of the women had stress and urge type, respectively. Body mass index was higher in women with urinary incontinence with a significant difference. Early marriage, high number of gravida (>10) and parity (6-10), recurrent urinary tract infection, presence of comorbidities, drugs such as antihypertensive, moderate caffeine intake and hormonal replacement therapy were risk factors. Conclusions: The percentage of urinary incontinence among postmenopausal women was more than two- third which is considered high compared with the global prevalence. Mixed type (stress and urge) is the most common type accounting for more than two-third of affected women. This demonstrate the need for health educational strategies to prevent, screen and proper management.