1Final Year Student, Krishna College of Physiotherapy, Krishna Vishwa Vidyapeeth, Karad
2*Assistant Professor, Department of Oncology Physiotherapy, Krishna College of Physiotherapy, Krishna Vishwa Vidyapeeth, Karad
Corresponding Author: snehalithorat25@gmail.com
Background: Urinary incontinence (UI) is more commonly observed in women and has a profound impact on their physical, psychological, social, and sexual quality of life. In India, especially in rural regions, many women quietly endure urinary problems, even when the symptoms cause significant discomfort and interfere with daily activities. This silent suffering is often driven by cultural norms and stigma, which discourage open discussion and timely medical intervention.
Methods: This was an observational study which included 130 participants under the inclusion criteria. The data was collected using a validated questionnaire which included question based on knowledge, awareness and experience related to urinary incontinence. The case sheet included name, age and occupation and random sampling method was used and studied of awareness level of Kegel exercises in rural area.
Results: Among 130 rural women surveyed near Karad, most were aged 18–30 or 41–50 years (32.3% each), with housewives forming the largest occupational group (51.53%), followed by employed women (29.23%) and students (19.23%). Awareness of urinary incontinence (35.38%) and Kegel exercises (18.46%) was low, and over half lacked information on their benefits or how to perform them. The main barrier to practice was limited knowledge (56.15%). Encouragingly, many participants expressed interest in learning (46.15%) and practicing Kegels (49.23%), with 52.30% suggesting health education as the best way to raise awareness.
Conclusion: The study reveals low awareness of urinary incontinence (35.38%) and Kegel exercises (18.46%) among rural women, with most never practicing due to lack of knowledge. Nearly half were willing to learn, favouring health education, local camps, and informational materials—highlighting the need for accessible community-based training.
Keywords: Awareness, Community education, Kegel exercises, Prevention, Rural women, Urinary incontinence
How to cite this article: Thorat SD, Patil D. Awareness of Kegel Exercises for Preventing Urinary Incontinence in Rural Area. Int J Drug Deliv Technol. 2026;16(13s): 916-921. DOI: 10.25258/ijddt.16.13s.103.
Source of support: Nil.
Conflict of interest: None