Background: Despite the availability of effective treatments, many patients with urinary incontinent do not seek treatment. This study investigated the reasons for not seeking treatment for urinary incontinence (UI) among Saudi women in Taif city.
Methodology: A cross-sectional study was carried out among 631 women with the problem of UI using an electronic survey. A questionnaire was used to collect data about participantsÂ’ characteristics, desire to seek medical advice, and effects of UI on their daily activities.
Results: Out of total participants, only 21.7% reported that they sought medical care for UI, 33.9% felt ashamed of seeking help, 18.7% thought that it is normal to undergo UI with aging, 13.2% refused to go to a male physician, and 12.5% thought that UI treatment does not exist. A significantly higher percentage of participants who did not seek medical advice presented with several characteristics: older age, higher mean number of births,
illiteracy, urinary tract infection (9%), diabetes mellitus or hypertension (3.8%), urge to urinate, need to use adult diapers, use of a higher number of daily diapers, and UI affecting their daily activities.
Conclusion: An urgent need for educating Saudi women about UI and the importance of seeking medical care was found through the current study. Family and general physicians have a major role in this education.
Key words: Women, urinary, incontinence, advice, medical, Saudi
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