Epidemiological differences of lower urinary tract symptoms among female subpopulations and group level interventions

OBJECTIVES: 1) To study the risk factor profiles of lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) among adolescent girls, housewives and working women and its socioeconomic and quality of life losses. 2) To undertake risk factor modifications using the adolescent girls. DESIGN AND SETTING: Cross-sectional descriptive study followed by educational intervention. STATISTICAL METHODS: Cluster sampling, Proportions, confidence intervals, Chi square and t-Tests and Logistic regression. MATERIALS AND METHODS: House to house survey was done in two villages and one urban ward. Seventy-five housewives, 75 working women and 180 adolescent girls were asked about the risk factors and losses due to LUTS. Three teams of adolescent girls were utilized to bring about behavioral modifications. Impact was measured through user perspectives obtained from the participants. RESULTS: Risk factors, social, economic and quality of life losses were different among the three female populations. Overall prevalence of LUTS among the three groups is 61(18.5%). Improper anal washing technique, malnutrition, presence of vaginal discharge, use of unsanitary menstrual pads, pinworm infestation and use of bad toilets were the significant causes among girls. Presence of sexually transmitted diseases was a contributing factor among housewives and working women. Prolonged sitting the posture was also contributing to LUTS among working women. Seventy-four per cent of beneficiaries expressed that intervention is useful. CONCLUSIONS: The causes for LUTS and their consequences were differing among the three female subpopulations. Specific group level interventions using trained girls were successful.