TITLE:
Screening for Urinary and Anal Incontinence during Pregnancy and the Postpartum Period in Senegal
AUTHORS:
Abdoul Aziz Diouf, Lionel Ulrich Gomina-Pampali, Khalifa Ababacar Gueye, Mouhamet Sène, Moussa Diallo, Anna Dia, Youssoupha Touré, Alassane Diouf
KEYWORDS:
Urinary Incontinence, Anal Incontinence, Pregnancy, Postpartum, Pelvic Floor, Risk Factors, Senegal
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology,
Vol.16 No.6,
June
29,
2026
ABSTRACT: Objective: To assess the frequency and screening modalities of urinary incontinence (UI) and anal incontinence (AI) in women during pregnancy and the postpartum period at the Centre Hospitalier National de Pikine (CHNP). Methods: A single-center, ambispective, descriptive and analytical study conducted at the maternity unit of the Mother-Child Center of the Centre Hospitalier National de Pikine from February 1 to April 30, 2025. All patients who delivered a pregnancy of ≥22 weeks of gestation during the study period and agreed to participate were included. Data were analyzed using R software version 4.4.1. Results: Out of 864 deliveries, 796 patients were included. The mean age was 28.4 ± 6.1 years. The prevalence of incontinence during pregnancy was 42.7% (pure UI: 36%; mixed incontinence: 5.9%; pure AI: 0.75%). The prevalence of postpartum incontinence was 26.1% (pure UI: 14.3%, pure AI: 0.75%, mixed incontinence: 11.2%). On multivariate analysis, factors independently associated with postpartum UI were: history of UI (aOR = 3.26; 95% CI: 1.76 - 6.10), incontinence during pregnancy (aOR = 6.49; 95% CI: 4.16 - 10.4), instrumental delivery (aOR = 73.1; 95% CI: 8.90 - 999), and fetal macrosomia (aOR = 2.60; 95% CI: 1.40 - 4.91). Spontaneous remission was observed in 54.5% of patients with postpartum UI and 50.5% of those with AI. Conclusion: Urinary and anal incontinence are common during pregnancy and the postpartum period. Macrosomia and instrumental deliveries are the main risk factors. Systematic screening and early pelvic floor rehabilitation in at-risk patients are essential.