KARACHI, Dec 7: Poor obstetric care facilities available to local women, coupled with the practice of repeated deliveries, significantly enhances urinary incontinence among women.

Ninety-five per cent of the total 23.9 per cent Pakistanis are presently estimated to be suffering from the distressing condition with a significant effect on the quality of their lives leading to enhanced chances of stress and above all infections among the patients.

The obstructed labour causing rupture in the passage between urinary tract and vagina causes anaerobic organism flora (bacteria), resistant to ordinary antibiotic, and also contributory to urinary tract and cervical infections respectively.

According to doctors, family history, occupation, use of different types of toilets are also among the other factors causing the problem.

The condition also witnessed among men was stated to be not as common and severe as generally noticed in women, who besides the normal age factor leading to laxity of muscles and reduced control over bladder (in both sexes) are also considerably vulnerable to child delivery linked trauma.

A recently conducted Asia Pacific survey reveals 44 per cent of Pakistani women to be inflicted with the condition compared to 40.90 per cent belonging to other parts of Asia while 33.3 per cent of local men were among the sufferers compared to other 51.5 per cent of their other Asian counterparts. The identified individuals were mentioned to be those who sought medical intervention and were thus registered.

Doctors suggest that condition be accepted as a cause of serious concern, particularly due to its impact on social, psychological as well biological aspects of life of the sufferers.

An Incontinence Clinic is being run at Jinnah Post Graduate Medical Centre every Monday and Thursday between 9a.m to 10:30 am.—APP