FREQUENCY OF URINARY INCONTINENCE AMONG FEMALE ATHLETES OF KARACHI

Abstract

Background:

Urinary incontinence is not a beleaguering problem of older adult males and females but literature reveals that it’s a circumventing problem for younger adults too. In Pakistan no literature is evident on the prevalence of urinary incontinence among female athletes. Therefore, this study is conducted to find out its prevalence which further might be helpful in spreading the awareness among athletes, coaches and sports physiotherapists.

Objective:

To investigate the frrquency of urinary incontinence among female athletes of Karachi.

Design:

A cross-sectional study design is used to measure the prevalence of Urinary Incontinence (UI) Among Female Athletes of KHI. Non-probability purposive sampling technique is used.

Place and duration of study:

The recruitment was taken place from all female athletes of KHI, sports complexes including National Coaching Centre-PSB, Women complex, Naval Academy, The Physical Institute, Sindh Sports Board, DUHS-Sports Complex. The duration of study was September 2017 to February 2018.

Method:

Participants were enrolled from the various sports academies of KHI, who were fulfilling the inclusion criteria.  A self-administered questionnaire was the mode of investigation.

Results:

Total 373 female athletes were included in study. UI at least once experienced by 242 (64.9%) athletes while 131 (35.1%) hadn’t experienced it. Out of this percentage 12.6% had stress incontinence, 36.7% urge incontinence and 16.1% had mixed incontinence.

Conclusion:

UI is a public health concern and its oftenness is noteworthy among athletes, which is having a great impact on their personal, professional and social life.