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Impact of urinary incontinence on quality of life among rural women

Background: The exasperating symptoms of urinary incontinence(UI) adversely affect holistic well-being of women. Objective: This cross-sectional study aimed to evaluate the impact of symptoms of urinary incontinence on the health-related quality of life (HRQOL), using King's Quality of Life Health Questionnaire among women in India. Methods: A total of n = 611 women were screened for stress, urgency, and mixed urinary incontinence by purposive sampling method at Gottigere, Primary Health Center Bangalore South, Karnataka, India. Results: The prevalence of urinary incontinence (UI) was (23.08%) with majority presenting stress (54.61%) followed by urgent (27.66%) and mixed (17.73%) incontinence. The overall HRQOL in role limitations, daily activities, general health, physical/social well-being, sleep/energy, emotions, and personal relationships domains was poor with insignificant difference among stress versus urgency versus mixed incontinence (P = 0.641). The symptoms of UI such as frequency, nocturia, nocturnal enuresis, urgency, and stress, leakage during sexual relationships, infections, and pain had a negative impact on their QOL. Advancing age, parity, history of instrumental delivery, chronic cough, and constipation were found to be the most influencing factors for the episodes of UI and poor QOL among women. Conclusion: The detrimental consequences of urinary incontinence on the HRQOL of women need a paradigmatic shift in treatment approach.