title: Investigating the prevalence and causes of events leading to falls among the elderly hospitalized in Bandar Abbas hospitals.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Statistical indices show a growing increase in the elderly population around the world and our country. On the one hand, senior citizens are more exposed to tragic events than other age groups due to natural physiological changes. Falling down, accidents and scalds are among the most prevalent deadly events in this age group. Environmental security is vital in maintaining the elderly's health. Therefore, the present research was conducted seeking to determine the prevalence and causes of falls among the elderly hospitalized in Bandar Abbas hospitals.
  
  
  METHODS
  The present research is of a descriptive, cross-sectional type. Research population is comprised of all the elderly patients in Bandar Abbas hospitals. The sample included 300 individuals who were selected according to convenience sampling method till the sample was saturated. The instrument used was a questionnaire and the data were also gathered through interviews. The collected data were later analyzed by SPSS version 16. To analyze the data, descriptive statistics (frequency and percentage) were used along with the Chi-squared test. The significance level was set at P < 0.05.
  
  
  RESULTS
  From among the 300 subjects, 47.3% had experienced falls since the age of 60. In 22 of cases, it had led to injury and they were obliged to visit a doctor. The results of this research revealed that the causes of falls among the elderly were respectively: 43.33% of unbalance, 12.3% of poor eyesight, 11.66% of non-existing handles or fences, 12% of slippery ground, 2.66% of insufficient lightning, 8.66% of unbalance and poor eyesight and 9.33% of other reasons. As the results revealed, a correlation existed between falls and educational level (P < 0.025). Moreover, a significant correlation was found between sex and falls (P < 0.011). A similar significant correlation was also observed between the place of residence and falling down (P < 0.045).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  According to the research results, planning to prevent events and traumas among the elderly and securing their residential environment is of an essential significance.
authors.affiliation: Department of Nursing, School of Nursing, Bandar Abbas Branch, Islamic Azad University, Bandar Abbas, Iran.
authors.forename: Fereshteh
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Mazharizad
authors.affiliation: Hormozgan Fertility and Infertility Research Center, Bandar Abbas, Iran.
authors.forename: Sakineh
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Dadipoor
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health, Social Determinants for Health Promotion Research Center, School of Health, Bandar Abbas, Iran.
authors.forename: Abdoulhhossain
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Madani
authors.affiliation: Student Research Committee, Hormozgan University of Medical Sciences, Bandar Abbas, Iran.
authors.forename: Ali Safari
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Moradabadi
keywords: Bandar Abbas; elderly; events; prevalence