Urinary incontinence among climateric Brazilian women: household survey

• Published in: Revista de saúde pública 2001-10, Vol.35 (5), p.428-435
• Main Authors: Guarisi, T, Pinto Neto, A M, Osis, M J, Pedro, A O, Paiva, L H, Faúndes, A
• Format: Article
• Language: Portuguese
• Subjects: Brazil - epidemiology; Climacteric - physiology; Cross-Sectional Studies; Female; Humans; Interviews as Topic; Middle Aged; Prevalence; Risk Factors; Socioeconomic Factors; Urinary Incontinence, Stress - epidemiology
• ISSN: 0034-8910
• DOI: 10.1590/s0034-89102001000500004

To investigate the prevalence of stress urinary incontinence and its associated factors in perimenopause women using a population-based household survey. A descriptive, exploratory cross-sectional population-based study with secondary analysis of a population-based household survey on perimenopause and menopause was conducted among women living in the city of Campinas, Brazil. Through a sampling process, 456 women between 45 and 60 years old were selected. Complaints of urinary incontinence and related risk factors, such as age, socioeconomic status, education level, race, parity, smoking habits, body mass index, previous gynecological surgeries, menopausal status, and hormonal replacement therapy were explored. Data were collected through home interviews using an adapted version of the structured pre-tested questionnaire elaborated by the International Health Foundation, International Menopause Society and the American Menopause Society. Statistical analysis were performed using prevalence rates (CI 95%). Thirty-five percent of the interviewees referred stress urinary incontinence. None of the sociodemographic factors studied was associated to the risk of urinary incontinence. In addition, parity did not significantly change the risk of urinary incontinence. Other factors, such as previous gynecological surgeries, body mass index, and smoking habits, were not associated with the prevalence of stress urinary incontinence. Also, menopausal status and hormonal replacement therapy did not change the risk of stress urinary incontinence. Though there was a high prevalence of stress urinary incontinence among perimenopause women, there was not found any associations with sociodemographic and reproductive factors.