Urinary incontinence in young women: Risk factors, management strategies, help-seeking behavior, and perceptions about bladder control. 2020

Tayla J Lamerton, and Gregore I Mielke, and Wendy J Brown
School of Human Movement and Nutrition Sciences, University of Queensland, St Lucia, Queensland, Australia.

The aim was to describe the characteristics of young adult women who report urinary incontinence (UI), the types of UI they experience, the strategies they use or consider important for managing UI, and help-seeking behavior. Data were from the 1989-1995 Australian Longitudinal Study on Women's Health cohort (n = 8457) at age 22 to 27 (in 2017). Descriptive statistics were used to summarize: characteristics of young women who experience UI; the types of UI they experience; which strategies women use to manage UI; perceptions of bladder control; and the proportion of women who seek help (and reasons why not). Prevalence ratios for UI according to sample characteristics were calculated using Poisson regression models. At age 22 to 27, 11% (n = 986) of young women reported UI in the past month. Compared with women who did not have UI, those reporting UI were 7 kg heavier on average and were more likely to be in the obese body mass index category, report high psychological distress, and have at least one child. Most women with UI reported mixed symptoms of UI (stress and urge), and used a combination of strategies to self-manage UI symptoms. Only one in five women had sought help or advice from a healthcare professional. Obesity, parity, and high psychological distress are strong correlates of UI in young women. As the majority of women with UI do not seek help, the antenatal period may be a critical time for healthcare providers to identify those at risk, and encourage early prevention or effective management strategies. As physical activity is positively associated with better outcomes for obesity and psychological distress, there may also be concurrent improvements in UI if these issues are addressed.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D008137 Longitudinal Studies Studies in which variables relating to an individual or group of individuals are assessed over a period of time. Bogalusa Heart Study,California Teachers Study,Framingham Heart Study,Jackson Heart Study,Longitudinal Survey,Tuskegee Syphilis Study,Bogalusa Heart Studies,California Teachers Studies,Framingham Heart Studies,Heart Studies, Bogalusa,Heart Studies, Framingham,Heart Studies, Jackson,Heart Study, Bogalusa,Heart Study, Framingham,Heart Study, Jackson,Jackson Heart Studies,Longitudinal Study,Longitudinal Surveys,Studies, Bogalusa Heart,Studies, California Teachers,Studies, Jackson Heart,Studies, Longitudinal,Study, Bogalusa Heart,Study, California Teachers,Study, Longitudinal,Survey, Longitudinal,Surveys, Longitudinal,Syphilis Studies, Tuskegee,Syphilis Study, Tuskegee,Teachers Studies, California,Teachers Study, California,Tuskegee Syphilis Studies
D009765 Obesity A status with BODY WEIGHT that is grossly above the recommended standards, usually due to accumulation of excess FATS in the body. The standards may vary with age, sex, genetic or cultural background. In the BODY MASS INDEX, a BMI greater than 30.0 kg/m2 is considered obese, and a BMI greater than 40.0 kg/m2 is considered morbidly obese (MORBID OBESITY).
D010298 Parity The number of offspring a female has borne. It is contrasted with GRAVIDITY, which refers to the number of pregnancies, regardless of outcome. Multiparity,Nulliparity,Primiparity,Parity Progression Ratio,Parity Progression Ratios,Ratio, Parity Progression,Ratios, Parity Progression
D010465 Perception The process by which the nature and meaning of sensory stimuli are recognized and interpreted. Sensory Processing,Processing, Sensory
D011247 Pregnancy The status during which female mammals carry their developing young (EMBRYOS or FETUSES) in utero before birth, beginning from FERTILIZATION to BIRTH. Gestation,Pregnancies
D001743 Urinary Bladder A musculomembranous sac along the URINARY TRACT. URINE flows from the KIDNEYS into the bladder via the ureters (URETER), and is held there until URINATION. Bladder,Bladder Detrusor Muscle,Detrusor Urinae,Bladder Detrusor Muscles,Bladder, Urinary,Detrusor Muscle, Bladder,Detrusor Muscles, Bladder
D005260 Female Females
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000066505 Help-Seeking Behavior Form of social behavior in which assistance is sought from others. Behavior, Help-Seeking,Behaviors, Help-Seeking,Help Seeking Behavior,Help-Seeking Behaviors
D000328 Adult A person having attained full growth or maturity. Adults are of 19 through 44 years of age. For a person between 19 and 24 years of age, YOUNG ADULT is available. Adults

Related Publications

Tayla J Lamerton, and Gregore I Mielke, and Wendy J Brown
April 2018, International urogynecology journal,
Tayla J Lamerton, and Gregore I Mielke, and Wendy J Brown
October 2010, The Journal of urology,
Tayla J Lamerton, and Gregore I Mielke, and Wendy J Brown
April 2018, International urogynecology journal,
Tayla J Lamerton, and Gregore I Mielke, and Wendy J Brown
August 1994, Postgraduate medicine,
Tayla J Lamerton, and Gregore I Mielke, and Wendy J Brown
January 2010, British journal of nursing (Mark Allen Publishing),
Tayla J Lamerton, and Gregore I Mielke, and Wendy J Brown
February 2002, Progres en urologie : journal de l'Association francaise d'urologie et de la Societe francaise d'urologie,
Tayla J Lamerton, and Gregore I Mielke, and Wendy J Brown
January 2025, Frontiers in medicine,
Tayla J Lamerton, and Gregore I Mielke, and Wendy J Brown
July 2011, International urogynecology journal,
Tayla J Lamerton, and Gregore I Mielke, and Wendy J Brown
December 2023, Journal of women's health (2002),
Tayla J Lamerton, and Gregore I Mielke, and Wendy J Brown
January 2021, BMC health services research,
Copied contents to your clipboard!