Knowledge, Attitude, and Practice Toward Urinary Incontinence Among Physically Active Women

Area of Science:

• Urology
• Gynecology
• Sports Medicine
• Public Health

Background:

• Urinary incontinence (UI) significantly affects physically active women's quality of life.
• Understanding knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) regarding UI in gym-exercising women is crucial for targeted interventions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) related to urinary incontinence (UI) among physically active women who exercise in gyms.
• To identify factors associated with UI knowledge and practices in this demographic.

Main Methods:

• Cross-sectional observational study conducted in gyms in Parnaíba, Brazil (March-July 2022).
• Data collected using IPAQ, ICIQ-SF, a specific KAP-UI questionnaire, and sociodemographic/gynecological forms.
• Statistical analyses included Mann-Whitney, Fisher's exact, and chi-square tests.

Main Results:

• Prevalence of UI was 43% among 256 participants, with a moderate impact on quality of life.
• 51.8% had adequate knowledge, 98.7% positive attitudes, but only 29.5% adopted treatment and 16.4% preventive practices.
• Inadequate knowledge linked to lower education, single status, lower income, and bodybuilding; higher physical activity correlated with adequate knowledge.

Conclusions:

• While attitudes towards UI are positive, knowledge is adequate in only half of physically active women, with low adoption of preventive and treatment practices.
• Age, education, income, marital status, and physical activity type/level influence UI KAP.
• Adequate knowledge is associated with effective preventive and therapeutic practices for UI in physically active women.