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The help-seeking by women with urinary incontinence in Brazil

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Abstract

Introduction and hypothesis

Lower tract urinary symptoms are underestimated by women as well as health professionals. The objective of this study was to evaluate the behavior of adult women with urinary incontinence and overactive bladder symptoms in seeking medical treatment.

Methods

Two hundred ninety-two women between 20 and 82 years old were interviewed. Urinary symptoms, epidemiologic, and quality of life (ICQ-SF) were related to the procurement of medical assistance. The Shapiro–Wilk, Mann–Whitney, and chi-square tests were used.

Results

The impact of the symptoms on quality of life was greater in younger women. Twenty-two percent of the participants, mainly the younger ones, reported seeking medical services due to several associated symptoms and quality of life impact.

Conclusion

Younger women, association of several urinary symptoms, symptoms of urinary loss, and longer time since symptom onset were determining factors for seeking medical treatment.

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Conflicts of interest

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Physical Therapy Department, Centro Universitário da Grande Dourados, Dourados, Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil

    Angela A. N. Rios

  2. Department of Surgery, Discipline of Urology, Universidade Estadual de Londrina, Londrina, Brazil

    Marco Aurélio Freitas Rodrigues & Silvio Henrique Maia de Almeida

  3. Physical Therapy Department, Universidade Estadual de Londrina, Londrina, Paraná, Brazil

    Jefferson R. Cardoso

  4. Rua Francisco Marcelino da Silva 270, Londrina, Paraná, Brazil, CEP: 86047-160

    Silvio Henrique Maia de Almeida

Authors
  1. Angela A. N. Rios
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  2. Jefferson R. Cardoso
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  3. Marco Aurélio Freitas Rodrigues
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  4. Silvio Henrique Maia de Almeida
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Silvio Henrique Maia de Almeida.

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Rios, A.A.N., Cardoso, J.R., Rodrigues, M.A.F. et al. The help-seeking by women with urinary incontinence in Brazil. Int Urogynecol J 22, 879–884 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00192-010-1352-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00192-010-1352-5

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