Female Urinary Incontinence in Africa: Prevalence Estimates from a Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Area of Science:

• Urology
• Public Health
• Epidemiology

Background:

• Urinary incontinence (UI) is a significant health concern for women globally.
• Limited data exists on the prevalence of UI among women in African countries.

Purpose of the Study:

• To systematically review and meta-analyze the prevalence of urinary incontinence (UI) in African women.
• To compare different UI types, racial distributions, geographic locations, and methodologies.

Main Methods:

• Systematic search of CINAHL, PubMed, Embase, and AJOL databases.
• Inclusion of studies from 2000-2023 in French or English, focusing on adult women (≥18 years) in Africa.
• Random-effects model meta-analysis following PRISMA guidelines.

Main Results:

• Pooled prevalence of UI was 24% (95% CI: 17-33%), with significant heterogeneity.
• Prevalence estimates for specific UI types: urgency (28%), stress (35%), and mixed (31%).
• High heterogeneity (I² 72.6%-99.8%) observed across studies, indicating variability in findings.

Conclusions:

• Approximately one-quarter of adult women in Africa experience urinary incontinence.
• High heterogeneity in prevalence estimates hinders definitive conclusions.
• Differences in methodology and UI definitions contribute to the observed variability.