A BSTRACT Introduction: Urinary incontinence (UI) is a common condition affecting women, particularly during pregnancy, due to physiological and birth-related factors. Despite its prevalence, awareness and understanding of UI among pregnant women in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, remain limited. This cross-sectional study aims to assess the prevalence of UI and its associated risk factors at King Abdulaziz University Hospital. Methodology: This is a cross-sectional observational study conducted at King Abdulaziz University Hospital in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, assessing the prevalence of urinary incontinence and its risk factors among pregnant women using a structured questionnaire. Data were cleaned in Excel and analyzed using IBM SPSS 29.0.0. Results: In a study of 411 pregnant women from the Makkah region, 159 (38.7%) experienced UI during pregnancy. UI prevalence was significantly associated with being aged 25–34 years, having a university education, and being of normal weight, with all groups showing higher incidence rates ( P < 0.05). A higher mean BMI was also linked to an increased likelihood of UI ( P < 0.05). Notably, UI risk was higher in women in their third trimester, those experiencing their first pregnancy, and those who had never given birth before ( P < 0.05). Additional risk factors included a 3–4-year interval since the last birth, episiotomy, or perineal tears during vaginal delivery and having a previously born child weighing 3.5 kg or more ( P < 0.05). Employment status, income level, and smoking did not significantly affect UI prevalence. Conclusion: Our study highlights the significant prevalence of UI among pregnant women and its association with key demographic, obstetric, and lifestyle factors. Identifying risk factors such as gestational age, BMI, and delivery history underscores the need for early screening, education, and targeted interventions to improve maternal health and pregnancy outcomes.
Alshamrani et al. (Thu,) studied this question.