PREVALENCE OF FALLS AND SOCIODEMOGRAPHIC CHARACTERISTICS OF ELDERLY: A CROSS-SECTIONAL STUDY IN RURAL AND URBAN POPULATION OF LUCKNOW DISTRICT.

Falls are a major health issue amongst elderly. Early identification of falls in elderly would certainly reduce morbidity and mortality. Most of the falls in elderly can be attributed to the combination of both extrinsic and intrinsic factors. A wide array of factors may be attributed to the falls in elderly. World Health Organization concept of Active Ageing could only be conceptualized if the risks of falls could be identified early in the course of an aging individual. However falls cannot be completed eliminated as risk factor of falls in elderly as it depends upon a wide array of factors. This study was conducted in the urban and rural field practice areas of Era's Lucknow Medical College and Hospital. This consists of Villages of Kakori block & mohallas of old Lucknow. People of either sex, 60 yrs of age and above residing in the field practice areas of Department Of Community Medicine constitute the study unit. It was a community based cross sectional study. The period of study was one year from October 2011 to September 2012 which was used for the development of study tools, collection of data, analysis and presentation of findings. Taking Prevalence as 50% and the value of allowable error, d to be as 5% the sample size was 400. A predesigned and pretested interview schedule was used to elicit information on sociodemographic characteristics and required information. In the present study 43.8% of the elderly males and 66.7% of the females in rural area had a fall within 12 months. However, 63.7% males and 69.7% females of urban area had a fall within 12 months. Less than one third 28.1% of males and 55.9% females in rural area had got injured due to fall within 12 months. In our study most common problem that was associated both with males and females elderly in rural areas were musculoskeletal problems that was followed by Eye problems and that was followed by cardiovascular problems. Majority of 76.4% of males and 78.4% of females of rural areas had musculoskeletal problems and 58.1% of males and 71.1% of females in urban areas had musculoskeletal problems. Overall 65.7% of males and 75.4% of females had musculoskeletal problems. India's elaborate system of Rural health care would be failing if the common problems of elderly are not addressed given to the fact that the proportion of elderly population are increasing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]