Table 1 Demographic, socioeconomic and environmental variables by fall occurrence during the past 12 months (n = 653)

Sex

(χ²(1) = 15.14, p < 0.001)^a

Male

218 (67.9)

103 (32.1)

Female

176 (53.0)

156 (47.0)

Age category (years)

(χ²(1) = 4.11, p = 0.043)^a

65–74

237 (63.7)

135 (36.3)

75 +

157 (55.9)

124 (44.1)

Marital status

(χ²(2) = 6.01, p = 0.050)^a

Single; (never married,

Separated / Divorced)

5 (55.6)

4 (44.4)

Married

281 (63.6)

161 (36.4)

Died Spouse

108 (53.5)

94 (46.5)

Education level

(χ²(3) = 11.32, p = 0.010)^a

Illiterate

96 (51.9)

89 (48.1)

Primary school

162 (60.9)

104 (39.1)

Secondary school

95 (64.6)

52 (35.4)

University or college

41 (75.5)

14 (25.5)

Main work

(χ²(3) = 18.19, p = 0.000)^a

Retired

155 (67.4)

75 (32.6)

Self-employed

46 (75.4)

15 (24.6)

Housewife

176 (53.0)

156 (47.0)

Other^d

17 (56.7)

13 (43.3)

Living arrangements

(χ²(2) = 7.17, p = 0.028)^a

Alone

59 (59.6)

40 (40.4)

Family (spouse/wife and children)

270 (63.5)

155 (36.5)

Other^e

65 (50.4)

64 (49.6)

Sufficient income

(NS)^b

No, less than required

233 (59.9)

156 (40.1)

Yes, enough to meet needs

161 (61.0)

103 (39.0)

Housing situation

(NS)^b

Own

350 (61.2)

222 (38.8)

Rental

29 (55.8)

23 (44.2)

Other^f

15 (51.7)

14 (48.3)

Worries about living expenses

(χ²(1) = 7.17, p = 0.007)^a

Always concerned

35 (46.1)

41 (53.9)

Less concerned

358 (62.0)

219 (39.8)

Environment: 1. Involvement of Environmental Hazards for falling

(χ²(2) = 653.0, p < 0.001)^a

No fallers

394 (100.0)

0.0 (0.0)

No environmental hazards

0.0 (0.0)

99 (38.2)²

Involvement of hazards

0.0 (0.0)

160 (61.8)²

Environment: 2. Home Safety

(χ²(1) = 3.69, p = 0.055)^c

Unsafe home

319 (58.6)

225 (41.4)

Safe home

65 (69.1)

29 (30.9)