The Experience of Women From Underrepresented Groups With Urinary Incontinence: A Systematic Review.
Verónica Blanco Gutiérrez, Vanora A Hundley, Susan Way
PMID 37199465WHAT IT FOUND
Women from underrepresented groups described urinary incontinence as shameful, religiously complicated, and normalized as a consequence of childbirth or aging.
These beliefs, combined with language barriers and fear of male clinicians, delayed help-seeking. Care requires cultural competence and female providers.
Key findings
01Participants frequently viewed urinary incontinence as a normal consequence of aging or childbirth, or as a religiously determined condition, which contributed to the normalization of the symptom and delayed help-seeking.
02The condition caused significant psychological distress, social isolation, and marital difficulties, with many women hiding the issue from partners due to shame.
03Access to care was hindered by language barriers, fear of physical examination by male clinicians, and a lack of health literacy regarding bladder function.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for RNs
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What it does not show
Only four studies were included, with a small total sample of 59 women. The search was limited to English-language publications. Only one reviewer conducted the literature search and screening, increasing the risk of bias. The included studies themselves had quality limitations, including lack of ethical approval documentation in two studies and unclear data analysis in three. The review focused on non-pregnant women, so findings may not directly apply to perinatal populations despite the authors' initial intent. There was an overrepresentation of women from the Islamic faith, limiting generalizability to other underrepresented groups.
Declared interests
The authors declared no potential conflicts of interest. The research was supported by an Iolanthe Midwifery Trust Award received by the principal author.
The easy way to misread this
Do not assume that the themes identified apply to all women from underrepresented groups. The review included only four studies with 59 participants, predominantly of Muslim faith, and excluded studies with mixed ethnicities. Findings may not generalize to Black, Hispanic, or other Asian backgrounds not represented in the included studies.