Assessing the Knowledge and Awareness of Urinary Incontinence among Urogynecology Clinic Patients in Jordan: A Cross-Sectional Study

Objective:To assess knowledge and awareness of urinary incontinence (UI) among Jordanian women attending a urogynecology clinic and identify sociodemographic and clinical factors associated with knowledge levels. Methods:A cross-sectional study was conducted involving 294 women aged 18 to 80 years who attended the urogynecology clinic at King Hussein Medical Center (KHMC) in Amman, Jordan, from February 2022 to April 2023. Knowledge was measured using the validated Prolapse and Incontinence Knowledge Questionnaire (PIKQ) through structured interviews. Each correct answer was awarded one point, while incorrect or "do not know" responses were scored as zero. Total scores, ranging from 0 to 12, were converted to percentages. Data normality was assessed using the Shapiro-Wilk and Kolmogorov-Smirnov tests. Associations between knowledge scores and sociodemographic or clinical variables were examined using Spearman's rank correlation coefficient. Statistical analyses were performed with IBM SPSS version 28.0, and statistical significance was set at p < 0.05. Results:The mean knowledge score was 8.77 ± 1.39 out of 12 (73.06%). Higher knowledge scores were significantly associated with greater educational level, higher income, employment in healthcare, and previous treatment for UI (p<0.05). In contrast, increasing age, higher number of children, and postmenopausal status were significantly associated with lower knowledge scores (p<0.05). No significant associations were found between knowledge scores and marital status, prior consultation with a urologist or urogynecologist, or personal history of UI. Conclusion:Women attending a urogynecology clinic in Jordan demonstrated moderate overall knowledge of UI. However, substantial knowledge gaps remain, particularly concerning treatment options and disease management. These results underscore the need for targeted educational interventions, particularly for older, multiparous, and postmenopausal women, to improve understanding, address misconceptions, and enhance clinical outcomes and quality of life.