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Metas de Enfermería

Metas de Enfermería

MARZO 2009 N° 2 Volumen 12

Program for the prevention of pregnancy and postpartum urinary incontinence

Section: Cover story

How to quote

Navío Ruiz AM, Artieda Oseñalde EM. Programa para la prevención de la incontinencia urinaria durante el embarazo y el postparto. Metas de Enferm mar 2009; 12(2): 27-31

Authors

1Ana Mª Navío Ruiz, 2Eva Mª Artieda Oseñalde

Position

1Matrona y enfermera. Hospital La Ribera, Alzira.2Matrona y enfermera. Hospital de Terrassa, Barcelona.

Contact address

C/ Antigons, 1, 22. 46136 Museros (Valencia)

Contact email: ananavio_13@hotmail.com

Abstract

Primary Care units are the patients’ first point of contact with the healthcare system. Given that urinary incontinence is a growing medical, social and economic problem in the world, prevention, counselling and follow-up programs for patients with pelvic dysfunction must be created within Primary Care. In Spain, one in seven women suffer urinary incontinence and many of them perceive it as an “inevitable” problem related with ageing, pregnancy, number of children, etc. This article presents a health program aimed at pregnant women that can be developed by midwives in Primary Care centres. The objective of the program is to provide women access to information, prevention and professional care regarding urinary incontinence and re-education of the pelvic floor in order to improve their health and quality of life. A health program comprised of five parts is presented. The first part is a questionnaire for inclusion in the program with an individualized assessment of the pelvic floor. The second part includes four educational sessions carried out during pregnancy. In the third part, there is an assessment of muscle tone in the postpartum visit. The fourth part consists of postpartum exercise sessions. Evaluation of the program is carried out based on pelvic floor muscle reassessment 6 months after delivery.  

Keywords:

urinary incontinence; pelvic floor; pregnancy; post-partum; exercises; preventionrehabilitation

Versión en Español

Título:

Programa para la prevención de la incontinencia urinaria durante el embarazo y el postparto