INTRODUCTION
Urinary incontinence is a common problem in childhood that can occur due to neurogenic or functional reasons (1). According to the new terminology suggested by the International Child Continence Association (ICCS), incontinence is divided into two groups as continuous and intermittent incontinence. While enuresis in the intermittent incontinence group only means incontinence during sleep (2), the term ”daytime incontinence” is used for children who do not have urinary incontinence during the night and who have urinary incontinence during the day only (3). For these definitions, the child must be over 5 years old and have involuntary incontinence for at least 3 months and at least twice a week without any central nervous system defects (4, 5).
Urinary incontinence is a condition that negatively affects the quality of life and can cause psychosocial problems in both the family and the child (6). It can cause adaptation problems, social exclusion, low self-esteem, and decrease in school performance in children (7). It may cause the child’s relationship with the family to deteriorate, the family to blame and punish the child, and to restrict their activities (8, 9). Despite this, many families do not apply to a health institution because of the expectation that it will pass by itself and because they accept it as a situation to be ashamed of and hidden (10). Lack of a standard screening program for the detection of urinary incontinence in our country also delays the diagnosis (11).
In this study, it was aimed to determine the children with urinary incontinence problem at a state secondary school in Eskişehir city center, and to evaluate the relationship between urinary incontinence and the social and medical anamnesis of the child. After the study was completed, families that had urinary incontinence problems and made a request were informed and directed for appropriate treatment.