Abstract

QUALITY OF LIFE AMONG WOMEN WITH STRESS URINARY INCONTINENCE IN WADI AL DAWASIR GENERAL HOSPITAL

Dr. Sumathi Ganesan*, Sudha Anbalagan, Wejdan and Ghosnah

ABSTRACT

Introduction: Stress Urinary Incontinence (SUI) is the involuntary leakage of urine during activities, coughing or sneezing as complaint by the women (Nygaard IE, Heit M, 2004). The study aimed to evaluate the level of quality of life among women with stress urinary incontinence attending Government General Hospital Wadi Al Dawasir. Non experimental research approach was chosen to collect the information. 100 women were included in this study. Materials and methods: The information was gathered among the females from the outpatient department and the wards of General Hospital by using Quality of Life ICIQ-LUTSqol 08/04 (Abrams, Avery, Gardener & Donovan, 2005) questionnaire. Random convenient sampling technique was adopted to select the samples. Women with stress urinary incontinence were included in this study. Results: Present study revealed that 21 % of them had good quality of life, 26% of them had moderate quality of life, and 53 % of them had poor quality of life. Among the women 28% of them were between the age group of 21-25 yrs. 53% of them completed their secondary education,22 % of them were employed,57% of them had 3-4 children,77% of them had normal vaginal delivery, 57% of them were suffered from incontinence since 5-6 years,48 % of them had normal weight and 23% were obese. Among them 37% were diabetic and 42% were hypertensive. 30% of them had awareness about stress urinary incontinence and pelvic floor exercises. 62% felt that this problem affected their normal routine activities and it was embarrassing. 57 % of them were anxious and nervous and were worried about the urine smell. 38% of the participants felt that this problem affected their sex life and 43% reported that the social activities were limited because of this problem. Conclusion: Urinary incontinence affects the physical, social, psychological, family and sexual life; this impairs the life of entire females in the world. As health care professionals need to educate them regarding how to manage this issue and teach them about pelvic floor exercises which are a gold standard for treating and preventing the stress urinary incontinence.

Keywords: Stress urinary incontinence, Quality of life, Pelvic Floor Exercises.