High prevalence of urinary incontinence and poor knowledge of pelvic floor exercises among women in Ladysmith

Abstract

Introduction. The purpose of the study was to determine the prevalence of urinary incontinence in Ladysmith, KwaZulu-Natal, the health-seeking behaviour of affected women, and women’s knowledge of pelvic floor exercises. Methods. Between September 2005 and November 2005, a questionnaire was administered to 99 women aged 21 - 76 years. Results. We found that 35.4% (95% confidence interval (CI) 25.9 - 44.8%) of the sample had urinary incontinence. The most common type of incontinence was stress urinary incontinence, reported by 62.9% (95% CI 46.5 - 79.2%). Of the 99 women, 32.3% (95% CI 23.1 - 41.5%) had heard of pelvic floor muscle exercises and 18.2% (95% CI 10.6 - 25.8%) had actually done them. Of the 35 women with urinary incontinence 25.7% had sought professional help, most commonly because of a worsening in condition. Conclusion. Although the prevalence of urinary incontinence in Ladysmith is high, knowledge about the condition and its management among both women and health service providers is poor.