PREVALENCE, RISK STRATIFICATION, AND DETERMINANTS OF URINARY INCONTINENCE AMONG WOMEN IN A TERTIARY CARE SETTING IN PAKISTAN: A CROSS-SECTIONAL STUDY

Abstract

Background: Many women experience involuntary urine leakage, a condition commonly known as urinary incontinence. While it significantly impacts physical, psychological and social quality of life, many women fail to seek treatment due to shame and stigma. Urinary incontinence has been linked to a number of demographic and obstetric factors, including advancing age, obesity, multiparity and vaginal childbirth.
Objective: ‘To determine the prevalence and associated risk factors of urinary incontinence among women presenting
to a tertiary care hospital’.
Methodology: This descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted in the Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics at Shifa International Hospital, Islamabad, Pakistan, from October 2025 to March 2026. Participants (n=295) were recruited using non-probability consecutive sampling in the age range of 18-70 years. A proforma was used to gather details related to age, marital status, body mass index, childbirth history, mode of delivery, and associated health problems were recorded. SPSS version 25 was used for data analysis. The chi-square test and logistic regression model were used to examine the association of urinary incontinence with various potential risk factors.
Results: Urinary incontinence was identified in 118 (40.0%) participants. Significant associations were observed between urinary incontinence and age ≥60 years (p<0.001), BMI ≥25 kg/m² (p=0.008), high parity (p<0.001), vaginal births (p=0.003), and presence of comorbidities (p=0.001). Higher parity, increased body weight, vaginal childbirth, and older age remained significantly linked with urinary incontinence after regression analysis.
Conclusion: Urinary incontinence is highly prevalent among women attending tertiary healthcare facilities and is strongly associated with several demographic and obstetric risk factors. Early screening and preventive interventions targeting high-risk women may help reduce the burden of urinary incontinence and improve quality of life.