الفهرس | Only 14 pages are availabe for public view |
Abstract INTRODUCTION Uro!,’)’necology encompasses lower urinary tract problems such as acute urethrocystitis, incontinence, urgencyfrequency, urethral sy11drome, urethral diverticulum, interstitial cystitis, and voiding disabilities. The first two of these disorders are encountered most frequently by those practicing obstehics and b’Yllecology. Although each occurs in both men and women, there is general agreement that cystitis and incontinence are more c01mnon m women. The person affected v.ith either of these often suffers profound social, economic, emotional and physical stress. For these reasons alone, it is important to have some understanding of their prevalence and the risk factors associated with them. Beyond this, however, the growing recognition ofthe substantial impact on health care cost on a national scale adds further impetus. TI1e costs of managing the problem of incontinence alone arc estimated to the $10 Billion annually in USA. This is a reflection, in part of the fact that incontinence is a major reason for institutionalizing people with chronic debilitating illness (Palmer, 1988). Underreporting is surely a factor in gathering data on incontinence. Women often do not mention their symptoms to immediate members of their family and frequently do not vohm. |