Addressing a Silent Epidemic: A Literature Review of Fall Risk Awareness and Prevention Strategies for Older Adults in Nigeria
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.60787/tnhj.v24i4.897Keywords:
Fall awareness, Behaviour, Efficacy, Prevention, Health education, Older adultsAbstract
Background: Falls among older adults have become a major public health concern due to their outcomes, which are often serious and may directly or indirectly affect patients, their families, carers, and the healthcare system. Although anyone may fall, older adults are more prone to falling, with associated higher rates of morbidity and mortality from the incidence when compared with younger adults. Understanding the risk factors associated with falls is crucial for developing effective fall prevention strategies tailored to the needs of the Nigerian older adult population. This review is focused on fall prevention among older adults.
Method: In this literature review, a comprehensive literature search was conducted using databases such as PubMed, Web of Science, African Journals Online (AJOL), Cochrane Library, and Google Scholar. Search terms included "falls," "falls risk," "falls prevention," "older adults," "elderly," and "Nigeria." Studies were included if they focused on older adults aged 60 years and above, addressed fall risk awareness or prevention strategies, and were published in peer-reviewed journals.; emphasis was on studies conducted in Nigeria and other developing countries. Data were extracted and categorized into epidemiology, risk factors, consequences, and prevention strategies.
Conclusion: By raising awareness about fall risk factors, promoting fall efficacy, and implementing evidence-based interventions, healthcare providers can help older adults stay safe and maintain their independence. Therefore, healthcare providers, policymakers, and community leaders should work together to develop and implement evidence-based fall prevention strategies that address the unique needs of the Nigerian population.
Downloads
References
Vaishya R, Vaish A. Falls in older adults are serious. Indian journal of orthopaedics. 2020 Feb; 54:69-74.
Weijer RH, Hoozemans MJ, Meijer OG, van Dieën JH, Pijnappels M. The short-and long-term temporal relation between falls and concern about falling in older adults without a recent history of falling. PloS one. 2021 Jul 9;16(7):e0253374.
Aranyavalai T, Jalayondeja C, Jalayondeja W, Pichaiyongwongdee S, Kaewkungwal J, Laskin JJ. Association between walking 5000 step/day and fall incidence over six months in urban community-dwelling older people. BMC geriatrics. 2020 Dec; 20:1-1.
James SL, Lucchesi LR, Bisignano C, Castle CD, Dingels ZV, Fox JT, Hamilton EB, Henry NJ, Krohn KJ, Liu Z, McCracken D. The global burden of falls: global, regional and national estimates of morbidity and mortality from the Global Burden of Disease Study 2017. Injury prevention. 2020 Oct 1;26(Suppl 2):i3-11.
World Health Organization, World Health Organization. Ageing, Life Course Unit, Université de Genève. Centre interfacultaire de gérontologie. A global response to elder abuse and neglect: building primary health care capacity to deal with the problem worldwide: main report. World Health Organization; 2008.
Mulugeta H, Tefera Y, Abegaz T, Thygerson SM. Unintentional injuries and sociodemographic factors among households in Ethiopia. Journal of environmental and public health. 2020;2020(1):1587654.
Montero-Odasso M, Van Der Velde N, Martin FC, Petrovic M, Tan MP, Ryg J, Aguilar-Navarro S, Alexander NB, Becker C, Blain H, Bourke R. World guidelines for falls prevention and management for older adults: a global initiative. Age and ageing. 2022 Sep;51(9): afac205.
Zhang H, Zhao Y, Wei F, Han M, Chen J, Peng S, Du Y. Prevalence and Risk Factors for Fall among Rural Elderly: A County‐Based Cross‐Sectional Survey. International journal of clinical practice. 2022;2022(1):8042915.
Dykes PC, Curtin-Bowen M, Lipsitz S, Franz C, Adelman J, Adkison L, Bogaisky M, Carroll D, Carter E, Herlihy L, Lindros ME. Cost of inpatient falls and cost-benefit analysis of implementation of an evidence-based fall prevention program. In: JAMA Health Forum 2023 Jan 6 (Vol. 4, No. 1, pp. e225125-e225125). American Medical Association.
Biswas I, Adebusoye B, Chattopadhyay K. Health consequences of Falls among older adults in India: a systematic review and Meta-analysis. Geriatrics. 2023 Apr 18;8(2):43.
Veronese N, Smith L, Barbagallo M, Yang L, Zou L, Haro JM, Koyanagi A. Sarcopenia and fall-related injury among older adults in five low-and middle-income countries. Experimental gerontology. 2021 May 1; 147:111262.
Atoyebi OA, Elegbede O, Babatunde OA, Adewoye K, Durowade K, Parakoyi DB. Prevalence and risk factors for falls in urban and rural older adults in Ekiti State, Nigeria. Ghana medical journal. 2021 Dec 1;55(4):265-72.
Yang Y, Ye Q, Yao M, Yang Y, Lin T. Development of the Home-Based Fall Prevention Knowledge (HFPK) questionnaire to assess home-based fall prevention knowledge levels among older adults in China. BMC public health. 2022 Nov 12;22(1):2071.
Peterson C, Xu L, Florence C. Average medical cost of fatal and non-fatal injuries by type in the USA. Injury prevention. 2021 Feb 1;27(1):1-0.
Bhoomika V, Chandrappa M, Reddy MM. Prevalence of fall and associated risk factors among the elderly living in a rural area of Kolar. Journal of family medicine and primary care. 2022 Jul 1;11(7):3956-60.
Ye P, Jin Y, Er Y, Yin X, Yao Y, Li B, Zhang J, Ivers R, Keay L, Duan L, Tian M. Perceptions of facilitators and barriers to Implementation of Falls Prevention Programs in Primary Health Care settings in China. JAMA network open. 2022 Aug 1;5(8):e2228960-
Adanusa M, Pobee SK, Zaabaar E, Mawuko V, Asiedu K, Amuzu SK, Adubofour W, Bazayeya C, Senaya EE, Ofori DC, Kyei S. Prevalence and risk factors for Falls among older adults in a primary care facility in Ghana. Malawi medical journal. 2022 Dec 16;34(4):225-30.
Greenstein L, Abraham A, Tipping B. Treating complexity in the older adult-the role of the geriatric giants. South African Family Practice. 2019;61(6):10-4.
Shevelkova V, Mattocks C, Lafortune L. Efforts to address the Sustainable Development Goals in older populations: A scoping review. BMC Public Health. 2023 Mar 8;23(1):456.
Appeadu MK, Bordoni B. Falls and fall prevention in the elderly. InStatPearls [Internet] 2023 Jun 4. StatPearls Publishing.
Smith ML, Ory MG. Multi-directional nature of falls among older adults: A rationale for prevention and management. Frontiers in public health. 2023 Feb 21; 11:1117863.
Lathouwers E, Dillen A, Díaz MA, Tassignon B, Verschueren J, Verté D, De Witte N, De Pauw K. Characterizing fall risk factors in Belgian older adults through machine learning: a data-driven approach. BMC public health. 2022 Nov 29;22(1):2210.
Singh RR, Maurya P. Visual impairment and falls among older adults and elderly: evidence from longitudinal study of ageing in India. BMC public health. 2022 Dec 12;22(1):2324.
Sun Y, Zhang B, Yao Q, Ma Y, Lin Y, Xu M, Hu M, Hao J, Jiang M, Qiu C, Zhu C. Association between usual alcohol consumption and risk of falls in middle-aged and older Chinese adults. BMC geriatrics. 2022 Sep 14;22(1):750.
Zaninotto P, Huang YT, Di Gessa G, Abell J, Lassale C, Steptoe A. Polypharmacy is a risk factor for hospital admission due to a fall: evidence from the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing. BMC Public Health. 2020 Dec; 20:1-7.
Garcia Meneguci CA, Meneguci J, Sasaki JE, Tribess S, Júnior JS. Physical activity, sedentary behavior and functionality in older adults: A cross-sectional path analysis. PloS one. 2021 Jan 29;16(1):e0246275.
Takase M. Falls as the result of interplay between nurses, patient and the environment: using text-mining to uncover how and why falls happen. International journal of nursing sciences. 2023 Jan 1;10(1):30-7.
Choi SD, Andrade EL. Multiple-Level Fall Risks Associated with Socioeconomic Factors Among Community-Dwelling Older Adults: A Systematic Review. Industrial and Systems Engineering Review. 2022 Dec 22;10(1):10-27.
Kim T, Choi SD, Xiong S. Epidemiology of fall and its socioeconomic risk factors in community-dwelling Korean elderly. PloS one. 2020 Jun 19;15(6):e0234787.
Srivastava S, Muhammad T. Prevalence and risk factors of fall-related injury among older adults in India: evidence from a cross-sectional observational study. BMC public health. 2022 Mar 19;22(1):550.
Amarya S, Singh K, Sabharwal M. Ageing process and physiological changes. InGerontology 2018 Jul 4. IntechOpen.
Osoba MY, Rao AK, Agrawal SK, Lalwani AK. Balance and gait in the elderly: A contemporary review. Laryngoscope investigative otolaryngology. 2019 Feb;4(1):143-53.
Wagner PP, Whittier DE, Foesser D, Boyd SK, Chapurlat R, Szulc P. Bone microarchitecture decline and risk of fall and fracture in men with poor physical performance—the STRAMBO study. The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism. 2021 Dec 1;106(12):e5180-94.
Angulo J, El Assar M, Álvarez-Bustos A, Rodríguez-Mañas L. Physical activity and exercise: Strategies to manage frailty. Redox biology. 2020 Aug 1; 35:101513.
Dani M, Dirksen A, Taraborrelli P, Panagopolous D, Torocastro M, Sutton R, Lim PB. Orthostatic hypotension in older people: considerations, diagnosis and management. Clinical Medicine. 2021 May 1;21(3):e275-82.
van Schoor NM, Dennison E, Castell MV, Cooper C, Edwards MH, Maggi S, Pedersen NL, van der Pas S, Rijnhart JJ, Lips P, Deeg DJ. Clinical osteoarthritis of the hip and knee and fall risk: The role of low physical functioning and pain medication. InSeminars in arthritis and rheumatism 2020 Jun 1 (Vol. 50, No. 3, pp. 380-386). WB Saunders.
Komisar V, Dojnov A, Yang Y, Shishov N, Chong H, Yu Y, Bercovitz I, Cusimano MD, Becker C, Mackey DC, Robinovitch SN. Injuries from falls by older adults in long-term care captured on video: prevalence of impacts and injuries to body parts. BMC geriatrics. 2022 Apr 19;22(1):343.
Schneider AM, Mucharraz C, Denyer S, Brown NM. Prolonged hospital stay after arthroplasty for geriatric femoral neck fractures is associated with increased early mortality risk after discharge. Journal of Clinical Orthopaedics and Trauma. 2022 Mar 1; 26:101785.
Migliorini F, Giorgino R, Hildebrand F, Spiezia F, Peretti GM, Alessandri-Bonetti M, Eschweiler J, Maffulli N. Fragility fractures: risk factors and management in the elderly. Medicina. 2021 Oct 17;57(10):1119.
Taylor JA, Greenhaff PL, Bartlett DB, Jackson TA, Duggal NA, Lord JM. Multisystem physiological perspective of human frailty and its modulation by physical activity. Physiological Reviews. 2023 Apr 1;103(2):1137-91.
Thakkar S, Srivastava S. Cross-sectional associations of physical frailty with fall, multiple falls and fall-injury among older Indian adults: Findings from LASI, 2018. PLoS one. 2022 Aug 12;17(8):e0272669.
Birhanie G, Melese H, Solomon G, Fissha B, Teferi M. Fear of falling and associated factors among older people living in Bahir Dar City, Amhara, Ethiopia-a cross-sectional study. BMC geriatrics. 2021 Dec; 21:1-1.
Ong MF, Soh KL, Saimon R, Wai MW, Mortell M, Soh KG. Fall prevention education to reduce fall risk among community‐dwelling older persons: A systematic review. Journal of nursing management. 2021 Nov;29(8):2674-88.
Heng H, Jazayeri D, Shaw L, Kiegaldie D, Hill AM, Morris ME. Hospital falls prevention with patient education: a scoping review. BMC geriatrics. 2020 Dec; 20:1-2.
Bergen G, Stevens MR, Kakara R, Burns ER. Understanding modifiable and unmodifiable older adult fall risk factors to create effective prevention strategies. American journal of lifestyle medicine. 2021 Nov;15(6):580-9.
Fernandes JB, Fernandes SB, Almeida AS, Vareta DA, Miller CA. Older adults’ perceived barriers to participation in a falls prevention strategy. Journal of personalized medicine. 2021 May 23;11(6):450.
Ott LD. The impact of implementing a fall prevention educational session for community‐dwelling physical therapy patients. Nursing open. 2018 Oct;5(4):567-74.
Oduoye MO, Adedayo AE, Javed B, Kareem MO, Joseph G, Karim KA, Fatima E, Akilimali A, Ajirenike RN, Ubechu SC. Falls among older adults in Nigeria; public health implications and preventive measures. IJS Global Health. 2023 Sep 1;6(5):e0305.
Ishaq MS, Umar ZA, Grema BA, Michael GC, Olawumi AL, Abiso MA. Pattern of fall and its determinants among elderly patients attending the general outpatient clinic of a tertiary hospital in northern Nigeria: a cross-sectional study. The Pan African Medical Journal. 2024 Jul 1;48(82).
Akande-Sholabi W, Ogundipe FS, Adisa R. Pharmacists’ knowledge and counselling on fall risk increasing drugs in a tertiary teaching hospital in Nigeria. BMC health services research. 2020 Dec; 20:1-9.
Kalu ME, Vlachantoni A, Norman KE. Knowledge about risk factors for falls and practice about fall prevention in older adults among physiotherapists in Nigeria. Physiotherapy research international. 2019 Jan;24(1):e1742.
Soh SL, Tan CW, Thomas JI, Tan G, Xu T, Ng YL, Lane J. Falls efficacy: Extending the understanding of self-efficacy in older adults towards managing falls. J Frailty Sarcopenia Falls. 2021; 6 (3): 131–8. Epub 20210901.
Campbell AJ, Robertson MC, Gardner MM, Norton RN, Buchner DM. Falls prevention over 2 years: a randomized controlled trial in women 80 years and older. Age and ageing. 1999 Oct 1;28(6):513-8.
Sadaqa M, Németh Z, Makai A, Prémusz V, Hock M. Effectiveness of exercise interventions on fall prevention in ambulatory community-dwelling older adults: a systematic review with narrative synthesis. Frontiers in public health. 2023 Aug 3; 11:1209319.
Clemson L, Mackenzie L, Ballinger C, Close JC, Cumming RG. Environmental interventions to prevent falls in community-dwelling older people: a meta-analysis of randomized trials. Journal of aging and health. 2008 Dec;20(8):954-71.
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2024 Agboola SM, Kolawole Michael Olusuyi, Beatrice Titilola Segun-Agboola, OA Ajetunmobi, Oluwaseun Chidera Ajayi, Oluwaseun James Aina, A Akinbode
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
The Journal is owned, published and copyrighted by the Nigerian Medical Association, River state Branch. The copyright of papers published are vested in the journal and the publisher. In line with our open access policy and the Creative Commons Attribution License policy authors are allowed to share their work with an acknowledgement of the work's authorship and initial publication in this journal.
This is an open access journal which means that all content is freely available without charge to the user or his/her institution. Users are allowed to read, download, copy, distribute, print, search, or link to the full texts of the articles in this journal without asking prior permission from the publisher or the author.
The use of general descriptive names, trade names, trademarks, and so forth in this publication, even if not specifically identified, does not imply that these names are not protected by the relevant laws and regulations. While the advice and information in this journal are believed to be true and accurate on the date of its going to press, neither the authors, the editors, nor the publisher can accept any legal responsibility for any errors or omissions that may be made. The publisher makes no warranty, express or implied, with respect to the material contained herein.
TNHJ also supports open access archiving of articles published in the journal after three months of publication. Authors are permitted and encouraged to post their work online (e.g, in institutional repositories or on their website) within the stated period, as it can lead to productive exchanges, as well as earlier and greater citation of published work (See The Effect of Open Access). All requests for permission for open access archiving outside this period should be sent to the editor via email to editor@tnhjph.com.
