Prevalence of urinary incontinence and knowledge of pelvic floor muscle training among older women in a Nigerian suburban community.

Abstract

Background: Urinary incontinence (UI) is a highly prevalent condition in women with a profound influence on their well-being and quality of life. Pelvic floor muscle training (PFMT) is a widely accepted conservative management of incontinence. Adequate knowledge of PFMT can enhance the ability of individuals to perform them effectively unsupervised.

Objectives: This study aimed to determine the prevalence of UI and knowledge of PFMT among older women in a selected suburban community in Nigeria.

Design: A cross-sectional design.

Methods: This study consecutively recruited 121 older women (65 years and above) with a mean age of 68.59 ± 4.94 years in Nnewi North LGA Anambra state, Nigeria. The International Consultation on Incontinence Questionnaire Short Form and an adopted pre-tested questionnaire were used to assess the prevalence of UI and knowledge of PFMT. Data was analyzed using Statistical Package of Social Sciences (SPSS) version 26 Descriptive statistics, and the chi-square test was utilized with significance determined at an alpha level of 0.05.

Results: The results revealed that 33.88% of the respondents experience UI, and 3.3% of them have heard about PFMT. There was significant association between prevalence of UI and number of pregnancies (χ² = 11.16, p = 0.03) and children (χ² = 9.77, p = 0.04). There was no significant association between the prevalence of UI and level of education (χ² = 4.20, p = 0.12) and knowledge of PFMT (χ² = 0.48, p = 0.42). There was no significant association between knowledge of PFMT and number of pregnancies (χ² = 04.25, p = 0.37), and number of children (χ² = 4.02, p = 0.40). There was a significant association between knowledge of PFMT and level of education among the participants (χ² = 7.46, p = 0.02).

Conclusion: The study showed a significant prevalence of UI and poor knowledge of PFMT in older women. Health professionals should sensitize older women in hospitals and care homes on the benefits of PFMT to improve their knowledge of PFMT.