title: Social risk factors for falls among rural Nigerian community-dwelling older adults.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Reports on social risk factors for falls are scarce. This study explored the associations of selected sociodemographic and health variables with falls among rural Nigerian community-dwelling older adults.
  
  
  METHODS
  The present cross-sectional study involved 131 community-dwelling older adults (84 women and 47 men) recruited at an outreach center. Demographic (age, sex and marital status), social (frequency of visiting relations and friends, and number of consistent informal carers) and health (number of comorbid conditions) variables were recorded.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Having fewer than two informal carers (0.26, 95% CI 0.10-0.68) was independently associated with reduced risk for falls. Visiting relations and friends less than twice per week was independently associated with greater risks for falls (3.85, 95% CI 1.42-10.46) and recurrent falls (4.86, 95% CI 1.25-18.85).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The number of informal carers and frequency of social visits are risk factors for falls in older adults, and need to be taken into consideration in any strategy for fall prevention in older adults. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2015; ●●: ●●-●●.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Rehabilitation, Faculty of Health Sciences and Technology, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Nnewi, Nigeria.
authors.forename: Fatai Adesina
authors.initials: FA
authors.lastname: Maruf
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Rehabilitation, Faculty of Health Sciences and Technology, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Nnewi, Nigeria.
authors.forename: Chidile
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Muonwe
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiotherapy, Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospital, Ile-Ife, Nigeria.
authors.forename: Marufat
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Odetunde
mesh_terms: D000058:Accidental Falls / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000886:Anthropometry; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003906:Developing Countries; D005260:Female; D015577:Geriatric Assessment; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D057187:Independent Living; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D009549:Nigeria; D004856:Postural Balance / Q000502:physiology; D011379:Prognosis; D012307:Risk Factors; D012424:Rural Population; D012931:Social Environment; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors
keywords: Nigeria; community-dwelling; fall; older adult; social factor