Relationship between lower urinary system complaints and healthy life behaviors among women aged 50 and over

Abstract

Purpose: This study was planned to determine the lower urinary tract complaints and healthy lifestyle behavior of women aged 50 and over living in Gümüşhane, Turkey. Materials and Methods: The population of this cross-sectional design study consisted of the female population aged 50 and over in Gümüşhane (5430), and the sample comprised of 543 women calculated using stratified sampling method according to age groups. In order to collect the data, a questionnaire investigating participants’ socio-demographic characteristics, obstetric gynecological, chronic disease stories and general health behavior, The Bristol Female Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms Scale (B-FLUTS) and Healthy Life Style Behavior Scale (HLSBS) were used. The data were evaluated with a statistical package program.Results: The mean age of the women was 64.55±11.197, the mean age of menopause was 47.72±5.11. The BLUTS total score was 16.43±11.06, and the total score of HLSBS scale was 125.76±22.74. The BFLUTS total score was associated with the women’s work status (those who are employed are less likely to have symptoms), advanced age, marital status (those living apart have more symptoms), low income status, low educational status, having unemployed spouse, having given birth at home, constipation, chronic disease history, daily pad use, increased pregnancy, birth and miscarriage. Conclusion: As the mean of HLSBS total score increased, Spiritual Development BFLUTS score decreased. Before any medical treatment, the women with lower urinary tract complaints should be analyzed by evaluating their lifestyle in order to reduce the complaints.

Keywords

• healthy behavior
• lower urinary tract symptoms
• risk factors
• woman
• sağlık davranışları
• alt üriner sistem şikâyetleri
• risk faktörleri
• kadın