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

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. (C) 2018 Pan African Urological Surgeons Association. Production and hosting by Elsevier B.V.