Abstract
Background
Urinary incontinence (UI) is a prevalent yet underreported condition significantly impacting women’s quality of life. In Saudi Arabia, cultural stigma often prevents help‐seeking, and comprehensive data on its impact are limited. This study aimed to estimate the prevalence and severity of UI among women in Saudi Arabia, identify associated medical and obstetric risk factors, and evaluate its impact on quality of life in order to inform a policy and service framework for integrated, stigma‐sensitive care.
Methods
A cross‐sectional study was conducted among 629 adult women across Saudi Arabia using an online, self‐administered questionnaire. The instrument included sociodemographic sections, the validated International Consultation on Incontinence Questionnaire‐Short Form (ICIQ‐UI SF), and assessments of risk factors and quality‐of‐life impact. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, chi‐square tests, and multiple logistic regression.
Results
Regarding the amount leaked among the 291 women who reported incontinence, most reported small‐volume leakage: 238 (81.8%), while moderate 51 (17.5%) and large amounts 2 (0.7%) were relatively rare. Key risk factors identified included higher age, overweight/obesity (with 60.7% of frequent UI cases being overweight), and multiparity (46.3% of all women had ≥ 3 deliveries). The impact on quality of life was substantial: 25.4% reported an impact on their social life, and 21.0% reported feelings of anxiety or nervousness. Multivariable analysis revealed that severe social impact was independently associated with high leakage frequency (AOR = 4.25,
p
p
p
= 0.005).
Conclusion
UI is highly prevalent among women in Saudi Arabia, with significant physical and psychosocial consequences. Symptom severity and psychological distress are the primary drivers of social impairment. There is an urgent need for targeted public health initiatives to destigmatize UI, raise awareness, and improve access to treatment. These findings support a national framework that embeds routine UI screening in primary care, strengthens access to pelvic‐floor and weight‐management services, and integrates mental‐health support and culturally sensitive awareness campaigns to reduce stigma and improve quality of life.