Shamima Choudhury1, Syed Muhammad Shahin-ur Hayat2, Rafia Afreen Jalil3
1. Assistant Professor, Department of Community Medicine, Green Life Medical College, Dhaka.
2. Assistant Professor, Ibn Sina Specialized Hospital, Dhanmondi, Dhaka
3. Assistant Professor, Department of Community Medicine, Green Life Medical College, Dhaka
Abstract
Older people frame a large and rising percentage of the population of the countries world wide. It is a major global demographic trend which will intensify during the twenty-first century. As people grow older they are progressively more at risk of falling and suffering injuries.
An analytic type of case-control study was done to determine the risk factors (socio-demographic) of elderly falls among rural elderly people aged 60 years and above who had injury due to falls where 137 cases were from NITOR and from DMCH as age and sex matched control of 274. Data were collected through purposive sampling technique, by face to face interview using a semi-structured questionnaire. In this study the mean age of the respondents was 65.17±6.034 years among cases. Fall rates were highest among male (78%) and majority (62.8%) were married. Strong statistical association was revealed between types of family, educational level and occupation (P<0.001). The odds ratios with 95% CI were estimated for nuclear family, educational level and retired were significantly associated with elderly fall. Special attention should be given to elderly persons in all age groups and provide expertise and advocacy to them regarding fall. Knowledge regarding socio-demographic risk factors of falls may assist public health authorities to implement prevention strategies among individuals at higher risk of falling.
Key Words: Elder people, Fall, Socio-demographic risk factors