Avaliação do conhecimento de gestantes sobre a incontinência urinária na gestação: um estudo observacional transversal

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate pregnant woman knowledge of urinary incontinence (UI) and its association with sociodemographic, obstetric, clinical characteristics, and lower urinary tract symptoms. Method: This was an observational, cross-sectional, quantitative study conducted with 50 pregnant woman receiving care at Family Health Strategy (FHS) units and Pilates clinics in a municipality in Southeastern Brazil. Knowledge of UI was assessed using the Pregnant Women's Assessment of Knowledge, Attitude and Practice related to Urinary Incontinence (KAP-IU) scale, and urinary symptoms were evaluated using the Urinary Distress Inventory (UDI-6) subscale. Results: Fifty pregnant woman participated in the study, of whom 68% demonstrated adequate knowledge of UI, and all participants showed adequate attitudes toward the condition. Increased urinary frequency was the most frequently reported symptom. No statistically significant association was found between knowledge of UI and the investigated variables. Conclusion: The findings reinforce the importance of health education during prenatal care, the role of physical therapists in Primary Health Care, and the need for further studies with larger sample sizes.