Urinary incontinence in post-menopausal women attending primary care in Al-Ahsa, Saudi Arabia: prevalence, modifiable risk factors, and quality-of-life impact

Zainab Ali Alaithan; Maryam Al-khalifah; Alaa Baqer Alali; Salwa Baqer Alshaikh

doi:10.24911/IJMDC.51-1753824089

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Original Article
Online Published: 28 Oct 2025

IJMDC. 2025; 9(9): 2041-2050

doi: 10.24911/IJMDC.51-1753824089

Urinary incontinence in post-menopausal women attending primary care in Al-Ahsa, Saudi Arabia: prevalence, modifiable risk factors, and quality-of-life impact

Zainab Ali Alaithan, Maryam Al-khalifah, Alaa Baqer Alali, Salwa Baqer Alshaikh.

Abstract
Objective: This study aimed to determine the prevalence of urinary incontinence (UI), identify associated risk factors, and evaluate its impact on quality of life (QoL) among post-menopausal women attending primary-health-care (PHC) centers in Al-Ahsa, Saudi Arabia.
Methods: An analytical cross-sectional study was conducted in seven Ministry of Health PHCs from January 2024 to March 2025. Using simple random sampling, 381 Saudi women aged 55-75 years were interviewed with a structured Arabic questionnaire that captured socio-demographic and clinical variables, the Urogenital Distress Inventory short form (UDI-6), and the Incontinence Impact Questionnaire (IIQ-7).
Results: UI was reported by 150 participants, giving a prevalence of 39.4%. Half of the incontinent women recorded high symptom distress (UDI-6), and 54% reported marked QoL impairment (IIQ-7). Chronic constipation and chronic cough were significantly related to UI; constipation and hypertension independently predicted severe distress, whereas being married and having one to three vaginal deliveries were protective. Symptom severity correlated moderately with QoL loss.
Conclusion: UI was both common and burdensome in post-menopausal PHC attendees in Al-Ahsa. Constipation and hypertension amplify distress, while social support and a moderate number of vaginal births mitigate it. Routine enquiry about leakage, bowel habits, blood-pressure control, and pelvic-floor health should be integrated into primary care, accompanied by targeted education and timely referral to reduce the personal and societal impact of UI.

Key words: Urinary incontinence, prevalence, quality of life, post-menopausal women, Saudi Arabia

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Pubmed Style

Alaithan ZA, Al-khalifah M, Alali AB, Alshaikh SB. Urinary incontinence in post-menopausal women attending primary care in Al-Ahsa, Saudi Arabia: prevalence, modifiable risk factors, and quality-of-life impact. IJMDC. 2025; 9(9): 2041-2050. doi:10.24911/IJMDC.51-1753824089

Web Style

Alaithan ZA, Al-khalifah M, Alali AB, Alshaikh SB. Urinary incontinence in post-menopausal women attending primary care in Al-Ahsa, Saudi Arabia: prevalence, modifiable risk factors, and quality-of-life impact. https://www.ijmdc.com/?mno=274156 [Access: June 23, 2026]. doi:10.24911/IJMDC.51-1753824089

AMA (American Medical Association) Style

Alaithan ZA, Al-khalifah M, Alali AB, Alshaikh SB. Urinary incontinence in post-menopausal women attending primary care in Al-Ahsa, Saudi Arabia: prevalence, modifiable risk factors, and quality-of-life impact. IJMDC. 2025; 9(9): 2041-2050. doi:10.24911/IJMDC.51-1753824089

Vancouver/ICMJE Style

Alaithan ZA, Al-khalifah M, Alali AB, Alshaikh SB. Urinary incontinence in post-menopausal women attending primary care in Al-Ahsa, Saudi Arabia: prevalence, modifiable risk factors, and quality-of-life impact. IJMDC. (2025), [cited June 23, 2026]; 9(9): 2041-2050. doi:10.24911/IJMDC.51-1753824089

Harvard Style

Alaithan, Z. A., Al-khalifah, . M., Alali, . A. B. & Alshaikh, . S. B. (2025) Urinary incontinence in post-menopausal women attending primary care in Al-Ahsa, Saudi Arabia: prevalence, modifiable risk factors, and quality-of-life impact. IJMDC, 9 (9), 2041-2050. doi:10.24911/IJMDC.51-1753824089

Turabian Style

Alaithan, Zainab Ali, Maryam Al-khalifah, Alaa Baqer Alali, and Salwa Baqer Alshaikh. 2025. Urinary incontinence in post-menopausal women attending primary care in Al-Ahsa, Saudi Arabia: prevalence, modifiable risk factors, and quality-of-life impact. International Journal of Medicine in Developing Countries, 9 (9), 2041-2050. doi:10.24911/IJMDC.51-1753824089

Chicago Style

Alaithan, Zainab Ali, Maryam Al-khalifah, Alaa Baqer Alali, and Salwa Baqer Alshaikh. "Urinary incontinence in post-menopausal women attending primary care in Al-Ahsa, Saudi Arabia: prevalence, modifiable risk factors, and quality-of-life impact." International Journal of Medicine in Developing Countries 9 (2025), 2041-2050. doi:10.24911/IJMDC.51-1753824089

MLA (The Modern Language Association) Style

Alaithan, Zainab Ali, Maryam Al-khalifah, Alaa Baqer Alali, and Salwa Baqer Alshaikh. "Urinary incontinence in post-menopausal women attending primary care in Al-Ahsa, Saudi Arabia: prevalence, modifiable risk factors, and quality-of-life impact." International Journal of Medicine in Developing Countries 9.9 (2025), 2041-2050. Print. doi:10.24911/IJMDC.51-1753824089

APA (American Psychological Association) Style

Alaithan, Z. A., Al-khalifah, . M., Alali, . A. B. & Alshaikh, . S. B. (2025) Urinary incontinence in post-menopausal women attending primary care in Al-Ahsa, Saudi Arabia: prevalence, modifiable risk factors, and quality-of-life impact. International Journal of Medicine in Developing Countries, 9 (9), 2041-2050. doi:10.24911/IJMDC.51-1753824089

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