gallas, s. university of monastir - faculty of medicine of monastir - physiology laboratory, Tunisia , gallas, s. sahloul hospital - laboratory of functional explorations, Sousse, Tunisia , frioui, s. sahloul hospital - department of physical medicine and functional rehabilitation, Sousse, Tunisia , rabeh, h. university of monastir - faculty of medicine of monastir - physiology laboratory, Tunisia , ben reje, m. sahloul hospital - department of prevention and care safety, Sousse, Tunisia

Prevalence and risk factors for urinary and anal incontinence in Tunisian middle aged women

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Objectives: To estimate the prevalence of urinary incontinence and anal incontinence in Tunisian women and to identify their risk factors. Subjects and methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 402 female doctors and nurses randomly selected from 3 large hospitals in the center of Tunisia. The prevalence of urinary incontinence and anal incontinence were measured using validated questionnaires. Results: Overall 45.3% of women experienced incontinence (urinary incontinence or anal incontinence). The overall prevalence of urinary incontinence, anal incontinence and double incontinence were 45%, 6.3% and 6%, respectively. Factors associated with incontinence were postpartum urinary incontinence (OR 11.91, CI 4:72-30:04, P 0.001), menopausal status (OR 11.72, CI 3:8-36:07, P 0.001), arterial hypertension (OR 4.17, CI 1:61-10.81, P = 0.003), nurse occupation (OR 3.22, CI 1:62-6:36, P = 0.001) and constipation (OR 1.71, CI 1:02-2:87, P = 0.041). Medical help seeking was taken only by 21% of the incontinent women. Conclusion: Forty five percent of Tunisian women suffered from urinary or anal incontinence. A primary prevention for modifiable risk factors, such as postpartum pelvic floor physiotherapy and hypertension control, should be advised to women in order to optimize their quality of life.

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Prevalence , Urinary incontinence , Anal incontinence , Risk factors , Women

African Journal of Urology

373