Prevalence and characteristics of urinary incontinence among pregnant women attended at a private hospital in savar

Abstract

Purpose: The purpose of the study was to identify the prevalence and characteristics of urinary incontinence among pregnant women attended at a private hospital in Savar. Objectives: To identify the prevalence and characteristics of urinary incontinence among pregnant women, to find out the vulnerable age group and to explore the gestational age when pregnancy related urinary incontinence arises more frequently. Methodology: Method of the study was a quantitative research model in the form of a prospective type survey and cross sectional study design was carried out in this study. Data was collected from conveniently chosen 50 pregnant women from a private hospital in Savar, by using questionnaire with informed consent of the participants. Data were numerically coded and captured in Excel, using an SPSS 16.0 version software program. The researcher used descriptive statistics in this research. Results: In this study it was found that, the prevalence of urinary incontinence among the pregnant women was 74% (37). Of this 62% (23) pregnant women suffered from stress incontinence, 27% (10) from urge urinary incontinence and 11% (4) from mixed urinary incontinence. It was mostly occurred in 18-28 years old pregnant women. The housewives were mostly complaints of urinary incontinence. Most of the participants 56% (28) were primigravida and rest of the 44% (22) participants were multigravida in this study. The prevalence of urinary incontinence among primigravida and multigravida in this study was 68% (19) & 82% (18). The onset and frequency of urinary incontinence were depends on the gravida, previous delivery route, types of urinary incontinence and different gestational age of the pregnant women. Conclusions: The prevalence of urinary incontinence during pregnancy was very high especially in stress urinary incontinence. The housewives, multigravida especially whom had history of previous vaginal delivery route and advanced gestational age contributed the major risk factor. But the pregnant women were not aware about existing physiotherapy services. Proper physiotherapy could be helpful to minimize this urinary incontinence and prevent other pregnancy related complications also. Keywords: Urinary incontinence, stress urinary incontinence, urge urinary incontinence,