Research Information System
Turkiye Klinikleri Pediatri, vol.35, no.1, pp.16-24, 2026 (Scopus)
Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the presence of urinary and fecal incontinence in individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and the knowledge levels of their family caregivers about pelvic floor health, prolapse, and incontinence, as well as the relationship between these parameters. Material and Methods: The study included 68 individuals with ASD, with a mean age of 9.96±3.58 years, and their family caregivers, with a mean age of 39.32±8.23 years. Autism levels in individuals with ASD were assessed using the Childhood Autism Rating Scale. Urinary incontinence in individuals with ASD was assessed using the Voiding Disorders Symptom Score, and fecal incontinence was assessed using the Holschneider Continence Score. Pelvic floor health knowledge of parents of individuals with ASD was assessed using the Pelvic Floor Health Knowledge Questionnaire, and knowledge of prolapse and incontinence was assessed using the Prolapse and Incontinence Knowledge Questionnaire. Relationships between measurements were investigated using the Spearman rank order correlation coefficient (rs). Results were evaluated at a significance level of 0.05. Results: No significant relationship was found in this sample between the urinary and fecal incontinence scores of individuals with ASD and the pelvic floor health, prolapse, and incontinence knowledge scores of their family caregivers (p=0.570; p=0.268; p=0.634; p=0.437; p=0.448; p=0.242). Conclusion: The study revealed a high prevalence of urinary and fecal incontinence in individuals with ASD. Families’ knowledge of pelvic floor health and knowledge of prolapse and incontinence was found to be low. No association was found in this sample between families’ knowledge of pelvic floor health and knowledge of prolapse and incontinence, and the severity of incontinence in individuals with OSD. However, we believe that families’ knowledge on these issues should be increased, awareness should be raised during the care process, and future studies with larger samples should be conducted.