Case-controlled study of the relationship between delivery method and incidence of post-partum urinary incontinence

The protective role of caesarean section against urinary incontinence was investigated in this descriptive case-controlled study of 125 women with urinary incontinence who had been referred to obstetrics and gynaecology clinics in Tehran, Iran, compared with 125 control women without urinary incontinence. A gynaecologist visited all women to complete a questionnaire and episiotomy scar, stress incontinence, and severity of cystocele and rectocele were also determined. Data were analysed by Student's t-test for quantitative variables, the chi(2)-test for qualitative variables and logistic regression. Increased age and body mass index were found to be significant risk factors of urinary incontinence (bivariate and multivariate analyses). There were also significant relationships between urinary incontinence and gravidity, parity, delivery mode, episiotomy, type of caesarean section (elective or emergency), cystocele, rectocele and chronic constipation (bivariate analysis only). There was no relationship between urinary incontinence and fetal birth weight or maternal employment status. The results suggest that caesarean section can decrease the rate of urinary incontinence.