Urinary incontinence among female soldiers

A self-administered questionnaire was developed to assess the prevalence of urinary incontinence among active duty female soldiers. The questionnaire also addressed basic demographic information, including height, age, weight , and the subjects' present and past military activities. Adaptive measures that the soldiers commonly used to continue exercising and perform their d uties were also explored. Seven hundred thirteen questionnaires were handed out to female soldiers at Fort Lewis (Washington), Fort Benning (Georgia), and Fitzsimons Army Medical Center (Colorado) during preparation for physi cal fitness tests. Of the 563 soldiers (79%) who returned completed questio nnaires, 31% indicated that they commonly experienced urinary incontinence during duty and/or training to the extent that it interfered with job perfo rmance, hygiene, or was socially embarrassing. Thus, urinary incontinence:i s a pervasive problem among female soldiers.