Prevalence and Awareness of Urinary Incontinence among Postmenopausal Women

Open Access

Abstract

Background: Urinary incontinence (UI) is a prevalent yet often underreported health issue among postmenopausal women, significantly affecting quality of life. In Bangladesh, limited data exist regarding the prevalence and awareness of this issue in rural healthcare settings, creating a gap in targeted interventions. Objective: To determine the prevalence of and awareness regarding urinary incontinence among postmenopausal women in rural Bangladesh. Methods & Materials: A prospective cohort study was conducted at the Upazila Health Complex, Pirgonj, Thakurgaon, Bangladesh, from January 2023 to December 2024. A total of 147 postmenopausal women were selected using a purposive sampling technique. Data were collected through face-to-face interviews using a structured questionnaire and were analyzed using SPSS version 23.0. Results: The study revealed a high prevalence of urinary incontinence, affecting 78 participants (53.1%) out of 147. Among those experiencing UI, stress incontinence was the most common type (44.9%), followed by mixed incontinence (30.8%) and urgency incontinence (24.3%). Despite the high prevalence, awareness regarding UI was significantly low. Only 32 (21.8%) of all participants considered it a medical condition, and merely 18 (12.2%) were aware of available treatment options. Furthermore, a substantial majority (73.5%) had never discussed their symptoms with a healthcare provider. Conclusion: Urinary incontinence is highly prevalent among postmenopausal women in rural Bangladesh, yet awareness of the condition as a treatable medical issue remains critically low. This highlights an urgent need for community-based health education programs to improve awareness, reduce stigma, and encourage affected women to seek timely medical care.