Table 1 Socio-demographic characteristics of the baseline sub-samples by area of residence (suburb) (n = 837)
From: Risk factors for falls in older adults in a South African Urban Community
Characteristic | Gugulethu | Plumstead | Wynberg | P value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
N = 283 | N = 188 | N = 366 | ||
Age, mean (SD) years | 74 (6.1) | 75 (7.1) | 74 (6.2) | 0.225 |
Female (N (%)) | 231 (81.6) | 145 (77.1) | 264 (72.1) | 0.018 |
Marital status (N (%)) | Â | Â | Â | <0.001 |
 Married | 50 (17.7) | 68 (36.2) | 144 (39.3) |  |
 Widowed | 220 (77.7) | 95 (50.5) | 168 (45.9) |  |
 Divorced/separated | 4 (1.4) | 10 (5.3) | 22 (6.0) |  |
 Never married | 9 (3.2) | 15 (8.0) | 32 (8.7) |  |
Lives alone (N (%)) | 4 (1.4) | 67 (35.6) | 43 (11.7) | <0.001 |
Residents per household (median (IQR)) | 7 (5–9) | 2 (1–3) | 3 (2–4) | <0.001 |
Ethnic group (N (%)) | Â | Â | Â | <0.001 |
 Black African | 227 (97.9) | 5 (2.7) | 1 (0.3) |  |
 Coloured | 3 (1.1) | 50 (26.6) | 339 (92.6) |  |
 Indian | 3 (1.1) | 2 (1.10) | 17 (94.6) |  |
 White | 0 (0.0) | 131 (69.7) | 9 (2.5) |  |
Level of education (N (%)) | Â | Â | Â | <0.001 |
 No formal schooling | 24 (8.5) | 4 (2.1) | 17 (4.6) |  |
 Primary schooling | 160 (56.5) | 10 (5.3) | 71 (19.40) |  |
 Secondary schooling | 94 (33.2) | 150 (79.8) | 255 (69.7) |  |
 Post school qualification | 5 (1.8) | 24 (12.8) | 23 (6.3) |  |
Occupational category (N (%)) | Â | Â | Â | <0.001 |
 Unskilled | 224 (79.2) | 21 (11.2) | 64 (17.5) |  |
 Skilled | 55 (19.4) | 131 (69.7) | 250 (68.3) |  |
 Professional/Managerial | 4 (1.4) | 36 (19.1) | 52 (14.2) |  |
Receipt of a social pension (yes) | 281 (99.3) | 90 (47.6) | 280 (76.7) | <0.001 |
SES index (median, IQR) | 6 (5–6) | 8 (7–8) | 8 (7–8) | <0.001 |