Publication:

Urinary incontinence: prevalence and general awareness across genders

Background Urinary incontinence (UI) is a common condition affecting individuals across the genders and can significantly impact their quality of life (QoL). Although it is highly prevalent, awareness regarding UI still remains limited. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the prevalence of UI and assess its general level of awareness among both male and female participants.

Methods This cross-sectional study was conducted using a Google form-based questionnaire, distributed via email and social media. The questionnaire included sections on demographic information, medical history and evaluation of the presence and severity of UI was done by using International Consultation on Incontinence Questionnaire-Urinary Incontinence Short Form (ICIQ-UI SF). It also contained questions related to general awareness about UI. A total of 171 participants responded to the survey.

Results Among the reported participants, 57.3% were females and 42.6% were males. The overall prevalence of UI found to be 18.7%, with a higher occurrence in females (15.2%) as compared to males (3.5%). Although some participants demonstrated basic awareness, the overall general level of awareness regarding UI was moderate to low. A considerable number of respondents were unaware of available treatment options and commonly perceived UI as a normal consequence of aging rather than a treatable medical condition.

Conclusions The study found that UI is prevalent among the general population, particularly among females, along with a significant gap in general awareness regarding UI. These findings highlight that there is a need for targeted educational interventions and promotion of public awareness programs so that timely healthcare-seeking behaviours can be facilitated.