Urinary incontinence, the hidden health problem of cretan women: Report from a primary care survey in Greece

Christos Lionis, Ioannis Vlachonikolis, Maria Bathianaki, George Daskalopoulos, Stella Anifantaki, Aggelos Cranidis

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

Objective: The prevalence of urine leakage and care-seeking rates of women 35-75 years of age who visited GPs in two rural areas of Crete were investigated. Participants: All the women who visited their family physician in two primary care units during the period of August to November 1997 (N = 251) were asked if they had experienced symptoms of involuntary urine leakage. A set of questions was addressed to the women who replied positively. Results: Sixty-nine of the 251 women (27.5%) reported symptoms of involuntary urine leakage, and among the incontinent women 11 (15.9%) had previously contacted the health services about their problem. Only six out of thirty (20%) of the incontinent women who report effects on household activities, social and sexual life had contacted a physician about urinary incontinence (UI). The most common reason reported for not consulting the physicians was that the symptoms were not considered serious (35 women out of 58, 60.3%). Conclusion: This study points out the need for further awareness programs for both women and healthcare professionals to be set up in countries like Greece, in which a low care-seeking rate of incontinent women has been reported.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)59-66
Number of pages8
JournalWomen and Health
Volume31
Issue number4
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2000

Keywords

  • Care-seeking
  • Crete
  • Greece
  • Prevalence
  • Urinary incontinence
  • Women

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