[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.

Material and methods: 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.

Results: 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.

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