Does socioeconomic status explain racial differences in urinary incontinence knowledge?

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Health Disparities
• Urology

Background:

• Urinary incontinence (UI) affects a significant portion of the female population.
• Existing research suggests potential disparities in UI knowledge across racial/ethnic groups.
• The role of socioeconomic status (SES) in these potential knowledge gaps requires further investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine if racial/ethnic groups exhibit differences in urinary incontinence knowledge.
• To investigate whether socioeconomic status (SES) accounts for any observed differences in UI knowledge between racial/ethnic groups.

Main Methods:

• A cross-sectional study involving telephone interviews with 212 women across three California counties.
• Urinary incontinence knowledge was assessed using a standardized Incontinence Quiz.
• Socioeconomic status (SES) was calculated, and participants were categorized by race/ethnicity (White vs. minority).

Main Results:

• White women demonstrated higher scores on the Incontinence Quiz compared to minority women (P=.071).
• A significant positive association was found between higher SES and greater UI knowledge (r=0.177, P=.010).
• Multivariable analysis indicated that SES mediated the previously observed trend toward racial/ethnic differences in UI knowledge.

Conclusions:

• Socioeconomic status (SES) is a key factor explaining racial/ethnic disparities in overall urinary incontinence knowledge.
• Integrating SES considerations into the design of urinary incontinence educational initiatives may improve their efficacy.
• Targeted interventions considering socioeconomic factors could help reduce knowledge gaps in UI management.