Prevalence of Self-reported Urinary Incontinence and Associated Knowledge, Awareness, and Attitudes among Adults in Anand District, Gujarat, India: A Cross-sectional Study
Hanzala J. Shaikh *
Shree B. G. Patel College of Physiotherapy, Gujarat, India.
Prapti Shah
Shree B. G. Patel College of Physiotherapy, Gujarat, India.
Shreyash Gajera
Shree B. G. Patel College of Physiotherapy, Gujarat, India.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Background: Urinary incontinence (UI) is common, frequently under-reported, and associated with physical, psychological, and social burden. Community-based evidence that includes both women and men and examines knowledge and attitudes remains limited in India.
Objective: To estimate self-reported UI prevalence, compare prevalence by sex, describe UI-related knowledge, awareness, attitudes, and symptom distress, and identify perceived barriers to care among adults in Anand District, Gujarat.
Methods: This community-based cross-sectional study included 300 adults (150 women and 150 men; mean age 39.06 +/- 17.95 years) recruited by convenience and purposive sampling from urban and rural talukas. A demographic questionnaire, the Urinary Distress Inventory-6 (UDI-6), the Urinary Incontinence Knowledge Scale (UIKS), and the Urinary Incontinence Awareness and Attitude Scale (URINAS) were administered. Descriptive statistics and Pearson chi-square testing were used; 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated for prevalence estimates.
Results: Self-reported UI was present in 32 participants (10.67%; 95% CI 7.66%-14.67%), including 28 women (18.67%; 95% CI 13.24%-25.66%) and 4 men (2.67%; 95% CI 1.04%-6.66%). The sex difference was significant (chi-square = 20.15, p < 0.001), with a crude female-to-male odds ratio of 8.38 (95% CI 2.86-24.54). Poor UI knowledge was observed in 91 women (60.7%) and 7 men (4.7%), whereas good knowledge was observed in 26 women (17.3%) and 123 men (82.0%). Across the full sample, 87% regarded UI as a normal consequence of ageing and 81.67% were unaware of pelvic floor muscle training. Commonly endorsed barriers to care included shyness regarding physical examination (27.33%), clinician gender (27.0%), and embarrassment (18.67%).
Conclusion: In this non-probability community sample, self-reported UI was more frequent among women than men and coexisted with substantial knowledge gaps and perceived barriers to care. The findings support locally adapted continence education and accessible, preference-sensitive care while underscoring the need for probability-based studies with clinically validated case definitions.
Keywords: Urinary incontinence, prevalence, knowledge, awareness, attitudes, UDI-6, UIKS, URINAS, India