Impact of Urinary Incontinence on Quality of Life Among Women of Childbearing Age in Al Madinah Al Munawara, Saudi Arabia

Introduction Urinary incontinence (UI) is a widely prevalent problem with a great impact on quality of life. It affects a person’s physical, social, occupational, and phycological aspects of life. Our study aimed to estimate prevalence, risk factors, effect on life, and help-seeking behaviors among women with urinary incontinence. Methods This is a cross-sectional analytic study conducted in primary health care centers among women of childbearing age in Al Madinah Al Munawara, Saudi Arabia. A total of 342 women aged between 18 to 50 years were included and interviewed using a previously validated and pretested Arabic version of the King's Health Questionnaire (KHQ). Result Out of 342 patients, 71 (20.8%) had UI. The mean age of the patients was 31.51 +9.36 years. Risk factors associated with UI were: BMI (p = 0.022, odds ratio = 1.06), multiparity (p = 0.027, odds ratio = 1.16), smoking (p = 0.018, odds ratio = 4.71), and chronic constipation (p = 0.013, odds ratio = 5.83). Only 28.2% of the affected women sought medical consultation. The main reasons for not seeking medical advice were the belief that UI is a common, normal aging process in 45%, while 14.1% were embarrassed by the condition, and 5.6% did not know that there was a treatment. Overall, there was a limitation in all domains of quality of life among patients who suffer from UI. The majority of limitations were slight to moderate. The most affected domain was sleep and energy. Conclusion UI is common and adversely affects the quality of life of women of childbearing age in Al Madinah Al Munawara. Obesity, multiparity, smoking, and chronic constipation are significant risk factors. Less than half of patients with UI sought medical care.