Racial Disparities in Knowledge of Pelvic Floor Disorders Among Community-Dwelling Women.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate racial and ethnic differences in knowledge about preventative and curative treatments for pelvic floor disorders (PFD). METHODS: The is a secondary analysis of responses from 416 community-dwelling women, aged 19 to 98 years, living in New Haven County, CT, who completed the Prolapse and Incontinence Knowledge Questionnaire. Associations between race/ethnicity (categorized as white, African American, and other women of color [combined group of Hispanic, Asian or "other" women] and knowledge proficiency about modifiable risk factors and treatments for PFD were evaluated. Associations were adjusted for age, marital status, socioeconomic status, education, working in a medical field, and PFD history. RESULTS: Compared to white women, African American women were significantly less likely to recognize childbirth as a risk factor for urinary incontinence (UI) and pelvic organ prolapse (POP), to know that exercises can help control leakage, and to recognize pessaries as a treatment option for POP. Other women of color were also significantly less likely to know about risk factors, preventative strategies, and curative treatment options for POP and UI; however, these findings may not be generalizable given the heterogeneity and small size of this group. CONCLUSIONS: Significant racial disparities exist in women's baseline knowledge regarding risk factors and treatment options for POP and UI. Targeted, culturally sensitive educational interventions are essential to enhancing success in reducing the personal and economic burden of PFD, which have proven negative effects on women's quality of life.

Knowledge of pelvic floor disorders in a population of community-dwelling women.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of the study was to investigate baseline knowledge and demographic factors associated with a lack of knowledge about urinary incontinence (UI) and pelvic organ prolapse (POP). STUDY DESIGN: This study was a community-based, cross-sectional survey of 431 racially and socioeconomically diverse women aged 19-98 years. The Prolapse and Incontinence Knowledge Questionnaire was used to assess participants' knowledge. Primary endpoints were the total number of correct responses on the UI and POP scales, respectively. Percentages of individuals answering each item or group of items correctly were explored as secondary outcomes. RESULTS: All women lacked knowledge proficiency about UI and POP, although knowledge about UI was slightly greater than knowledge about POP. Overall, 71.2% of subjects lacked UI proficiency (<80% correct), whereas 48.1% lacked proficiency in POP knowledge (<50% correct). Black women demonstrated significantly less knowledge about UI and POP than white women, both before and after adjustment for age, education, and household income. When combined into 1 group, Asian, Hispanic, and other women also showed significantly less UI and POP knowledge than white women. Most women who reported symptoms of UI had not received treatment for their problems. CONCLUSION: There is a global lack of knowledge about UI and POP among community-dwelling women, with more pronounced knowledge gaps among nonwhite women. UI and POP are chronic medical conditions that should be included in routine screening questions for well-woman care. Further studies are needed to explore how best to educate and improve women's awareness of these prevalent pelvic floor disorders.