Purpose: To estimate the prevalence and risk factors for urinary incontinence among a sample of Emirati women with diabetes.
Design: A cross-sectional survey design using probability sampling was employed to evaluate incontinence among 350 Emirati diabetic women. Age, body mass index, history of urinary tract infections, parity, diabetes duration, and type of diabetes management were evaluated as potential risk factors for incontinence. To assess type and frequency of incontinence, items from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey-Kidney Condition-Urology were used.
Findings: A total of 225 (64.3%) participants reported incontinence, with 110 (31.4%) expressed having an episode once a week or more. Both stress (n = 197, 56.3%) and urge incontinence (n = 208, 59.4%) were seen; 96 (48.7%) reported at least weekly stress incontinence episodes, and 109 (52.4%) reported weekly or more urge episodes. Results of logistic regression indicated that diabetes duration was the most significant risk factor for incontinence.
Conclusion: Prevalence of incontinence in Emirati women was higher than that reported by diabetic women in other cultures.
Practice implications: Clinicians working with Emirati diabetic women should endeavor to enhance screening for incontinence and design culturally appropriate strategies for teaching and treating this complication of diabetes.
Keywords: United Arab Emirates; diabetes complications; prevalence; risk factors; screening of incontinence; urinary incontinence; women’s health.