Table 2.
Risk of fall profile in the rural and urban groups (n=312)
| Fall risk factor | Category | Rural Frequency (%) |
Urban Frequency (%) |
χ2 | p-value |
| Use/advised using a cane or walker to get around safely | No | 285(91.3) | 291(93.3) | 0.813 | 0.367 |
| Yes | 27 (8.7) | 21(6.7) | |||
| Sometimes feel unsteady when walking | No | 277(88.8) | 217(69.6) | 34.980 | <0.001 |
| Yes | 35 (11.2) | 95(30.4) | |||
|
Steadies self by holding on to furniture when walking at home |
No | 301(96.5) | 251(80.4) | 43.424 | <0.001 |
| Yes | 11(3.5) | 61(19.6) | |||
| Worried about falling | No | 300(96.2) | 255(81.7) | 32.997 | <0.001 |
| Yes | 12(3.8) | 57(18.3) | |||
| Need to push with hands to stand up from the chair | No | 279(89.4) | 225(72.1) | 30.086 | <0.001 |
| Yes | 33(10.6) | 87(27.9) | |||
|
Have some trouble stepping up onto a curb edge of a raised pavement/ sidewalk |
No | 280(86.2) | 224(71.8) | 41.241 | <0.001 |
| Yes | 32(10.3) | 88(28.2) | |||
| Lost some feeling in feet | No | 307(98.4) | 259(83.0) | 43.795 | <0.001 |
| Yes | 5(1.6) | 53(17.0) | |||
|
Takes medicine that sometimes makes feel light-headed or more tired than usual |
No | 290(92.9) | 287(92.0) | 0.207 | 0.649 |
| Yes | 22(7.1) | 25(8.0) | |||
| Takes medicine to help sleep or improve mood | No | 268 (85.9) | 235(75.3) | 11.165 | 0.001 |
| Yes | 44(14.1) | 77(24.7) | |||
| Often feel sad or depressed | No | 306 (98.1) | 263 (84.3) | 36.868 | <0.001 |
| Yes | 6 (1.9) | 49 (15.7) |