title: Prevalence of Falls in an Urban Community-Dwelling Older Population of Cape Town, South Africa.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Falls are a major cause of disability and mortality in older adults. Studies on falls in this population have mainly been conducted in high income countries, and scant attention has been given to the problem in low and middle income countries, including South Africa. The aim of the study was to establish a rate for falls in older adults in South Africa.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cross-sectional survey with a 12-month follow-up survey.
  
  
  METHODS
  Three purposively selected suburbs of Cape Town: Plumstead, Wynberg Central and Gugulethu.
  
  
  METHODS
  Eight hundred and thirty seven randomly sampled ambulant community-dwelling subjects aged ≥ 65 years grouped according to ethnicity in three sub-samples: black Africans, coloureds (people of mixed ancestry) and whites.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data were collected on socio-demographic and health characteristics, and history of falls using a structured questionnaire and a protocol for physical assessments and measurements.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the total baseline (n=837) and follow-up (n=632) survey participants, 76.5% and 77.2 % were females with a mean (S.D) age of 74 years (6.4) and 75 years (6.2), respectively. Rates of 26.4% and 21.9% for falls and of 11% and 6.3% for recurrent falls, respectively, were calculated at baseline and follow-up. Fall rates differed by ethnic sub-sample at baseline: whites 42 %, coloureds 34.4% and black Africans 6.4 % (p=0.0005). Rates of 236, 406 and 354 falls per 1000 person years were calculated for men, women and both genders, respectively. Recurrent falls were more common in women than in men.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Falls are a significant problem in older adults in South Africa. Effective management of falls and falls prevention strategies for older people in South Africa, need to be developed and implemented.
authors.affiliation: S. Zimba Kalula, University of Cape Town, Institute of Ageing in Africa, L51, Old Main Building, Groote Schuur Hospital, Observatory, Cape Town, Western Cape 7925, South Africa, Sebastiana.Kalula@uct.ac.za.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Zimba Kalula
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ferreira
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Swingler
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Badri
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Aihie Sayer
mesh_terms: D000058:Accidental Falls / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D044383:Black People / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003906:Developing Countries; D006233:Persons with Disabilities; D004777:Environment; D005006:Ethnicity; D005260:Female; D015577:Geriatric Assessment; D006801:Humans; D007182:Income; D008297:Male; D009790:Occupations; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D012931:Social Environment; D013019:South Africa / Q000453:epidemiology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014505:Urban Population; D044465:White People / Q000706:statistics & numerical data