Urinary incontinence imposes a considerable drain on Australian healthcare resources.
More research is needed to understand the magnitude of the problem and potential gains from continence promotion. Urinary incontinence is a major clinical problem that has a profound effect on quality of life and activities of daily living. 1-3 Women with urinary incontinence report fear, shame and humiliation, and worry about the odour of urine from pads and wet underclothing. 4 Urinary incontinence is physically debilitating and socially incapacitating, and is associated with loss of self-confidence, feelings of helplessness, depression and anxiety. 3 Studies of the prevalence of urinary incontinence suggest that it is widespread among women of all ages.