[Urinary incontinence in woman: epidemiologic profile in Sub Saharian countries]

The objective of this study was to describe the epidemiologic profile of urinary incontinence of the African woman of three Sub Saharan African countries.

A multicentric study summarized the epidemiological data collected in female from Nouakchott, Dakar and Ndjamena using a questionnaire. All participants filled an anonymous questionnaire including demographic data and marital status, medical, surgical, gynecological and obstetrical history and the characteristics of the urinary incontinence.

Overall, 3021 questionnaires were distributed, only 2070 answers (69%) could be processed. Mean age of the overall population was 28 years. Adult women aged less than 30 years accounted for 56% of the study population. The age group 30-49 years accounted for 42% of the population and only 2% of the study group had more than 50 years. The prevalence of incontinence was 367 cases over 2070 (17,7%). The types of incontinence found were: urgency in 28.6% of cases, stress incontinence in 38.4% of cases and mixed in 33% of cases. Approximately 23,9% of nulliparous and 23,5% of the multiparous had urinary incontinence. The leakage was occasional in 75% of the cases and regular in 25% of the cases. According to gravity, in 31% of cases the volume of urines lost necessitated a change of underwear. Of the women presenting urinary incontinence, 85 (23%) consulted a doctor. A psychosocial repercussion was found in 31% of the cases.

Urinary incontinence is much more frequent in our areas than it was thought to be because it was rarely acknowledged.