Prevalence and Associated Factors of Falls among Older Adults between Urban and Rural Areas of Shantou City, China

Xiaodong Chen, Zeting Lin, Ran Gao, Yijian Yang and Liping Li
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Xiaodong Chen: Injury Prevention Research Center, Shantou University Medical College, Shantou 515041, China
Zeting Lin: Injury Prevention Research Center, Shantou University Medical College, Shantou 515041, China
Ran Gao: Injury Prevention Research Center, Shantou University Medical College, Shantou 515041, China
Yijian Yang: Department of Sports Science and Physical Education, Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
Liping Li: Injury Prevention Research Center, Shantou University Medical College, Shantou 515041, China

IJERPH, 2021, vol. 18, issue 13, 1-10

Abstract: Background: To investigate the prevalence of falls and associated factors among older adults in urban and rural areas and to facilitate the design of fall prevention interventions. Methods: We used cluster random sampling to investigate the sociodemographic information, living habits, medical status, falls, home environment, and balance ability among 649 older adult participants. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression were used to examine the associated factors of falls. Results: The incidence of falls among older adults in Shantou City was 20.65%. Among them, the incidence was 27.27% in urban areas and 16.99% in rural areas. The rate of injury from falls among older adults was 14.48%, with18.61% in urban area and 12.20% in rural area. Multivariate analysis showed that the associated factors of falls among older adults in Shantou City included a high school or below education level ( OR = 2.387, 95% CI : 1.305–4.366); non-farming as the previous occupation ( OR = 2.574, 95% CI : 1.613–4.109); incontinence( OR = 2.881, 95% CI : 1.517–5.470); lack of fall prevention education ( OR = 1.856, 95% CI : 1.041–3.311); and reduced balance ability ( OR = 3.917, 95% CI : 2.532–6.058). Discussion: Older adults have a higher rate of falling in Shantou City, compared to the average rate in China. There are similarities and differences in the associated factors of falls among older adults between urban and rural areas of Shantou City. Targeted interventions for older adults in different regions may be more effective in reducing the risk of falls.

Keywords: older adults; urban and rural areas; falls; associated factors (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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