C. Lara et J. Nacey, ETHNIC-DIFFERENCES BETWEEN MAORI, PACIFIC ISLAND AND EUROPEAN NEW-ZEALAND WOMEN IN PREVALENCE AND ATTITUDES TO URINARY-INCONTINENCE, New Zealand medical journal, 107(986), 1994, pp. 374-376
Aims. To assess the prevalence of urinary incontinence in New Zealand
women of European, Maori and Pacific Island descent aged 18 years and
over. Methods. A questionnaire, designed to be self administered, was
sent to a group of 1028 women selected at random from the electoral ro
ll in central Wellington. Incontinence was defined as any involuntary
loss of urine. If present, details were sought regarding the occurrenc
e, type, and severity of the incontinence so that the prevalence and n
ature of the problem within ethnic groups could be determined. Results
. The prevalence for Maori women (46.8%) was significantly greater tha
n for either Pacific Island (29.2%) or European women (31.2%) (chi2 =
14.02, p = 0.001). Increasing age, and parity were associated with inc
reasing prevalence of incontinence for all ethnic groups. Of the incon
tinent women, 9% were continually incontinent, 28% once or more daily,
and 37% more than twice monthly. A further 26% were incontinent less
than twice monthly. The most reported type of incontinence was stress
incontinence (48% of incontinent women), with 27% reporting urge incon
tinence, and 21% a mixed picture of stress and urge. There was no sign
ificant difference in the frequency of these symptoms between the diff
erent ethnic groups. Fifty per cent of incontinent women reported want
ing help for their urinary problems, but only one third had sought med
ical assistance, with many regarding incontinence as a normal occurren
ce. Conclusions. Urinary incontinence is common in New Zealand women i
rrespective of ethnic group. The low proportion of women seeking medic
al assistance emphasises the need for much greater awareness and publi
c education of what is largely a treatable clinical problem. Urinary i
ncontinence is estimated to affect more than one quarter of the female
population.1 The prevalence varies according to different age groups,
and although it is recognised that incontinence is more common in the
elderly, a significant number are young with nearly 20% of female chi
ldren experiencing episodes of urinary leakage.2 The medical, personal
and social impact of urinary incontinence is substantial, but surpris
ingly it is largely ignored, both by women with the condition, and by
those providing health services to them such that it has been describe
d as 'the hidden epidemic'. In New Zealand, research has been carried
out on the prevalence of urinary incontinence and reasons for not seek
ing treatment in the European community, but the other major ethnic gr
oups in New Zealand (Maori and Pacific Island) have not been investiga
ted.3 The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence of urinary in
continence in these ethnic groups and to determine any differences to
the prevalence of incontinence in European women in a similar socioeco
nomic environment. In addition, it was hoped to obtain some understand
ing of the attitudes of the women in each group to incontinence and th
eir perception of the currently available treatments and medical servi
ces.