THE EFFECT OF URINARY INCONTINENCE AND SEXUAL DYSFUNCTION ON THE QUALITY OF LIFE AMONG WOMEN WITH MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS

Objectives: this study was conducted in order to determine the effect of urinary incontinence and sexual dysfunction on the quality of life among women with multiple sclerosis (ms). methodology: the descriptive study included 60 women with multiple sclerosis (ms). the data were collected through a questionnaire forms designed by the researchers, arizona sexual experiences scale and short items form of health-related quality of life. chi-square, t and anova test were used. results: almost half of the women had urinary incontinence problem and 63.0 % did not visit the doctor. it was determined that the urinary incontinence was higher in women, who were over 45 years old, married and had children, and diagnosed for 6 years and more (p<0.05). twenty-eight point three percent (28.3%) of the ms women had sexual dysfunction. conclusions: it was determined that women with urinary incontinence had a lower quality of life and more sexual dysfunction.