Prevalence of Urinary Incontinence and Coping Attitudes in Women With and Without Incontinence in Turkey

Abstract

Aim: Coping strategies are thought to be important in dealing with a problem that affects women's well-being and quality of life, such as incontinence (UI). This study was done to investigate the incidence of UI and coping attitudes in women without and with UI in Turkey. Material and Methods: The descriptive study was carried out with 417 women who were applied in a Healthy Life Center located in Turkey. The study data were obtained using the International Consultation on Incontinence Questionnaire (Short Form) (ICIQ-SF) and Coping Orientations to Problems Experienced (COPE). Results: It was found that 34.8% of women had UI. It was determined that women used more common problem and emotion-focused coping attitudes” which are functional coping attitudes. It was found that women with UI used "withdrawal" which are problem-functional coping attitude "acceptance" which are emotion-functional coping attitude and "denial" and "behavioral disengagement" which are dysfunctional coping attitudes more than women without UI. Conclusion: It was determined that one third of the women had UI and they used more common problem-and emotion-focused coping attitudes. Although urinary incontinence has a chance of being treated, it is a condition that has major physical, psychosocial and economic effects on society, and is often reported to the health institution by women, and treatment is delayed.