Treatment of Urinary Incontinence in Women: A Challenge between Conservative and Surgical Therapy

Urinary incontinence (UI) is a socially embarrassing condition, causing withdrawal from social situations and reduced quality of life. This withdrawal from regular physical activities may be a threat to women’s general health predisposing to osteoporosis, high blood pressure, coronary heart disease, depression and anxiety. 

UI is defined by the International Continence Society as a condition in which involuntary loss of urine is a social or hygienic problem and is objectively demonstrable. UI is more common in women than in men and affects women of all ages. Prevalence rate in women between 15 and 64 years of age vary from 10% to 30% which increases with age. The prevalence of UI is significantly higher for individuals living in nursing homes, compared to community settings, with rates ranging from 43% to 77%. The severity of incontinence also increases with age. While a specific etiologic cause of urinary incontinence is often identifiable in younger persons, a multifactorial syndrome is more likely in older persons.

Violence and the Illicit Drug Market: Before During and After Disasters

This paper examines violence and underlying contexts and social processes that occurred among drug users/ dealers before, during and after major disasters: Hurricanes Gustav and Ike. A Stages paradigm is used to study violence during this time. Daily lives, conduct norms and behavior patterns associated with violence are illustrated. 

At each stage of the hurricanes, people drew heavily upon what they previously learned about behaving in stressful situations. Study Background: Data for this paper comes from a National Institutes of Health research titled “Stages of Drug Market Disruption and Reformulation in Disaster Cities.” Hurricanes Gustav and Ike in September 2008 provided an opportunity to document the impacts of multiple instances of violence stemming from the illicit drug market in Houston, New Orleans, and Galveston.