ASSESSING FALLS RISK AND ITS ASSOCIATED FACTORS AMONG URBAN COMMUNITY DWELLERS OLDER ADULTS IN GONDAR TOWN, NORTHWEST ETHIOPIA 2019: A CROSS SECTIONAL STUDY

Abstract

ABSTRACT Background: Falls are the major public health problems among older adults of age 65 years and older. It is a major cause of morbidity and mortality. Globally, falls account 28-35% in older adults aged 65 years and older. One out of three older adults fall each year. The risk of falling in the elderly is a combined result of multiple factors that can be from intrinsic or extrinsic in its origin. Assessing the falls risk status and their determinant factors among older adults is a key to take action on reducing the occurrence of falling and fall related injury. This study aimed to assessing the magnitude falls risk and its determinant factors in urban community dwellers older adults. Methods: A community based cross sectional study was conducted from April 22 to May 22 2019. An interview and structured questionnaire was used as a data collection method and tools respectively. A multistage stratified systematic random sampling was used to select 636 community older adults. Falls risk among older adults was assessed by TUGT. A binary logistic regression model was fitted. Bivariate logistic regression analysis was conducted and significantly associated factors from multivariate logistic regression were identified with p-values <0.05 and 95% CI. Results: A total of 607 urban community dwellers older adults were participated in this study. The overall magnitude of falls risk among urban community dwellers older adults was 38.2 %( 95%CI 34.3, 42.3). Female participants were more likely to have falls risk (AOR 8.2, 95%CI 4.2, 16.1). Foot problem and lower extremity were increased the risk of falling by 2.4 and 28.4 (AOR 2.4, 95%CI 1.4, 4.3, 28.4, 15.2, 53) respectively. Older adults with age 60 years and older significantly increased the risk of falling. Using diabetic control drug was found a protective factor of falls risk. Depressive symptoms were found increased the chance of falling in older adults (AOR 1.8, 95% CI 1.01, 3.2). Older adults with a habit of using assistive device increased the risk of falling by 2.56 (AOR 2.56,95 CI 1.3, 5.2). Conclusions: the magnitude of falls risk among urban community dwellers older adults aged 60 years and older in Gondar town using TUGT was 38.2%. Older age 60 years and older, being female, medical comorbidity with foot problem and lower extremity weakness, using diabetic controlling drug, depression and using assistive device were identified as associated factors of falls risk. Key words: fall, falls risk, older adult, elderly, risk factors, community dwellers and TUGT.